Miss Peruvian Rain Forest 2015! The beauty contest for South American jungle tribes where women parade in swimming costumes and are judged on hair length... and their tasty yucca plant recipes 

  • The women are judged on the length of their hair, their cooking skills and most importantly, their sense of humour
  • As well as the beauty contest, the festival includes an archery competition and plenty of dancing and feasting
  • Ashaninka women travel vast distances across the rain forest in order to attend the prestigious festival

By Tom Wyke for MailOnline

Published: 03:52 EST, 16 July 2015 | Updated: 08:09 EST, 16 July 2015

Deep in the heart of the Amazonian rain forest, the indigenous women of the Ashaninka tribe gather together, nervously making final checks to their appearance before one of the most important festivals of their lives.

Dressed in finely beaded decorative outfits, each woman appears confident and proud of their tribe's historic heritage as well as their own physical appearance as they await to compete in the Ashaninka tribe's 44th annual beauty contest.  

Their flawless skin is dotted with the fine red marks of a dye, extracted from a local spice known as achiote. Accentuating their cheekbones and eyes, the dots represent a woman's happiness and stand out against their simple brown tunics, draped in colourful beads.

However it is more than just a competition of physical looks. Each woman is tested on Peruvian politics and local geography as well as having to show their ability with the bow and the cooking knife. Only the best all-round woman will walk away with the grand prize; a feather hat.

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Winner: Each woman takes exceptional care with their appearance and practicing their culinary skills ahead of the contest

Winner: Each woman takes exceptional care with their appearance and practicing their culinary skills ahead of the contest

Modern influences: Whilst the traditional brown tunics are mainly worn by the participants, some of the girls bear more skimpy summer tunics

Modern influences: Whilst the traditional brown tunics are mainly worn by the participants, some of the girls bear more skimpy summer tunics

Most of the girls are teenagers and have travelled many miles from their isolated homes in the Amazonian rainforest to the village of Otari Nativo in the coca-growing region of Peru.

Situated in a deep valley near the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro rivers, the Ashaninka people assemble to celebrate the founding of their tribe, putting on a beauty contest and an array of activities to entertain everyone involved. 

All the girls are looking to get their hands on the first prize, a small straw hat with a long red feather. However winning the hat is no easy task as each lady is judged on an array of different features and traits.

Each contestant's first priority is their hair. Ashaninka men are said to judge a woman's beauty on their hair, with the longest, best kept hair considered a sign of outstanding beauty. 

The main prize: First prize is awarded to the woman with the best cooking, general knowledge and beauty

The main prize: First prize is awarded to the woman with the best cooking, general knowledge and beauty

Young and old: The festival draws together families and relatives from across the deep rain forests of the Amazonian region

Young and old: The festival draws together families and relatives from across the deep rain forests of the Amazonian region

Decorative: Draped in dozens of ornate beads, each of the participants wants to stand out and win the feathered hat

Decorative: Draped in dozens of ornate beads, each of the participants wants to stand out and win the feathered hat

Considerable time and an assortment of different remedies seems to be used by the women in an attempt to make their dark locks as shiny and luscious as possible for the all important competition.

As well as having beautiful hair, the ladies are judged on their ability to cook a staple cassava meal, with the men taking time to decide which woman has managed to produced the tastiest dinner. 

Their costume is also of great importance with an array of vibrant coloured beads standing out against the traditional brown tunic. Some of the contestants even show off their bare mid drift with a summer variation of the traditional dress, with the dull tunic contrasted by their red dotted faces. 

'The little red dots are my happiness,' said Beysi Anaya, a 17-year-old who won last month's competition after traveling three hours by car from her native valley community of Sampantuari.

Keen eye for detail: The judging panel assess each contestant, making sure to ask them questions about local geography and politics

Keen eye for detail: The judging panel assess each contestant, making sure to ask them questions about local geography and politics

Work in process: A large bucket of fementing cassava root juice, known locally as masato, is prepared by the women for the festival

Work in process: A large bucket of fementing cassava root juice, known locally as masato, is prepared by the women for the festival

Enjoying themselves: Most of the men take time to catch up with old friends and have a few drinks whilst watching the contest

Enjoying themselves: Most of the men take time to catch up with old friends and have a few drinks whilst watching the contest

Relaxing: Once the contest is concluded, a local band breaks out with some music and it becomes an all dancing affair

Relaxing: Once the contest is concluded, a local band breaks out with some music and it becomes an all dancing affair

Besides the practical culinary skills expected from a young Ashaninka woman and their fine physical looks, the indigenous tribe's men pay particular attention to one specific personality trait of each woman; their sense of humour.

According to Leslie Villapolo, who has worked with the Ashaninka, a woman's ability to laugh and joke is a essential element of a women's beauty.

Just like an American-style pageant, each contestant is also subjected to a test of their general knowledge and opinions on current affairs. The participants are each asked several basic questions on local geography and politics, designed to test their knowledge of local issues and affairs.

Remembering their forefathers: The festival celebrates the founding of the Ashaninka tribe in the Amazonian rain forest

Remembering their forefathers: The festival celebrates the founding of the Ashaninka tribe in the Amazonian rain forest

Widespread: Celebrated at night, the beauty contest is held several times over the year and attracts hundreds of participants

Widespread: Celebrated at night, the beauty contest is held several times over the year and attracts hundreds of participants

Striking look: Many of the beauty contestants wear fine red patterns on their face, coloured by a spice known as achiote

Striking look: Many of the beauty contestants wear fine red patterns on their face, coloured by a spice known as achiote

Say cheese: Although many of the tribesmen cling to their heritage and native dress, some of the younger men have started to wear western style clothes and are the proud owners of a mobile phone

Say cheese: Although many of the tribesmen cling to their heritage and native dress, some of the younger men have started to wear western style clothes and are the proud owners of a mobile phone

Let's feast: Much of the festival celebrates the tribes passion for its history, family and eating fine food, with women tasked with preparing the food whilst the men smoke the meat

Let's feast: Much of the festival celebrates the tribes passion for its history, family and eating fine food, with women tasked with preparing the food whilst the men smoke the meat

The questions vary but local knowledge on the identity of nearby rivers and landmarks are expected from the women as well as a basic understanding of Peruvian politics (one question asked the girls to name the current president of Peru, Ollanta Humala).

Whilst the women meticulously focus on their appearance and cram in last minute facts about their country, the tribesmen have a much easier time at the festival, marked to celebrate the founding of the Ashaninka community of Otari Nativo.

Not only do they get to help judge the beauty contest, Ashaninka men spend most of the festival relaxing, smoking pieces of meat and competing in archery competitions and drinking the fermented juice of a cassava root.

However whilst the tribe's women embody the traditional elements of their heritage, some of the younger men's dress sense embodies the touches of the modern world into their lives.

Mobile phones and Western style clothing is worn by some of the younger men, who appear to enjoy the festival, proudly snapping photos of the beauty contestant on their phones.

After the beauty contest has crowned a winner, the all important festival is concluded with a night of dancing, accompanied by a local band.

While the rain forest continues to be cut down and tribes come under threat, the festival brings a fine reminder of the historic values and heritage of one of the Amazon's proudest tribes.

Contestants: Each participant is given a number and is judged on an array of tasks and traits before the winner is crowned with the hat

Contestants: Each participant is given a number and is judged on an array of tasks and traits before the winner is crowned with the hat

Let's boogie: The festival, held in late June, is concluded with late night dancing, accompanied by a local band

Let's boogie: The festival, held in late June, is concluded with late night dancing, accompanied by a local band

Bullseye: A father and son carry bows and arrows ahead of the archery competition during the 44th anniversary celebrations

Bullseye: A father and son carry bows and arrows ahead of the archery competition during the 44th anniversary celebrations

Hot work: The men are given the task of looking after the smoking racks, where pieces of meat are hung out to be smoked

Hot work: The men are given the task of looking after the smoking racks, where pieces of meat are hung out to be smoked

Family occasion: Travelling from near and far, the Ashaninka tribe gather in the deep valley near the village of Otari Nativo

Family occasion: Travelling from near and far, the Ashaninka tribe gather in the deep valley near the village of Otari Nativo

Time to relax: Whilst the beauty contest is underway and the men are relaxing, the children entertain themselves by the fire

Time to relax: Whilst the beauty contest is underway and the men are relaxing, the children entertain themselves by the fire

 

 

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