Njambi Fever calls for more natural hair in African beauty pageants
By Paulette Mboga, July 28, 2026Blogger Njambi Fever has called for more contestants in African beauty pageants to embrace their natural hair, saying the continent’s biggest stages should celebrate the beauty and diversity of African hairstyles.
Her remarks came after 19-year-old Miss Universe Uganda contestant Kimberly Jael Aremo gained attention for her natural look during the competition. Njambi said seeing an African beauty queen receive international recognition while wearing her natural hair was meaningful.
“I also heard someone say that contestants in African pageants should wear their natural hair more often & I wholeheartedly agree. More braids. More afros. More locs. More natural. Less wigs. There’s so much beauty and diversity in African hair & our biggest stages should celebrate it,” Njambi Fever said.
She explained that African hair comes in many different styles and deserves to be seen on major pageant stages. According to Njambi, embracing natural hairstyles is one way of celebrating African beauty.
Celebrating African beauty
“The world is healing! A confident black queen going viral INTERNATIONALLY for her natural look? Immediately YES! You don’t understand how much this means to black women & black girls! Go, Kimberly,” Njambi Fever said.
Njambi said Kimberly Jael Aremo’s appearance had a deeper meaning for many Black women and girls. She explained that seeing a contestant confidently wear her natural hair on an international stage sends a positive message.
She also encouraged more contestants to embrace braids, afros and locs instead of feeling pressured to wear wigs. Njambi maintained that natural hairstyles deserve greater representation in African pageants.
As more young Black African women take pride in their natural beauty, conversations around embracing natural hair, darker skin tones and African features continue to grow.
More women are confidently wearing afros, braids and locs while choosing to celebrate their identity without feeling the need to change their appearance. Njambi said Kimberly’s moment was another reminder that African beauty, in its natural form, deserves to be seen and appreciated on the world’s biggest stages.
Njambi’s message expressed celebration of natural beauty and encouraged pageants to embrace more authentic African looks. She said African hair has beauty and diversity that deserve to be recognised, adding that Kimberly’s moment showed how powerful that representation can be.
Meanwhile, Media personality and fashion model Jean Ojiro was crowned Miss Universe Kenya 2026 after emerging victorious during the pageant’s grand finale held at Ole Sereni Hotel on Saturday, July 26, 2026.
Following her victory, she will go on to represent Kenya at the Miss Universe competition.