Miss Albania

In July 2009, I attended the Miss Albania pageant at the ancient amphitheater of Durrës—a historic venue that, on this evening, served as the backdrop for an event that felt somewhat out of place. Twenty-five young women stood on stage, perfectly styled and prepared. The event was presented as a symbol of the modern Albanian woman, combining glamour with statements about education and equality. Yet, I was not entirely convinced by this concept.

As a photographer who has spent years documenting people on the margins of society—particularly young people facing poverty, societal expectations, and rigid gender roles—this competition seemed like yet another performance: one where women, despite all the modern rhetoric, are still judged based on their appearance.

When the winner said, "We don’t just want to be beautiful—we want to be heard," I respected her courage. However, I couldn’t help but wonder why young women still have to fight for visibility—especially through beauty. Why is the right to be heard often only granted when they are also pleasing to the eye?