Upon Cassandre Jacques’ Recent Exit from Miss Mundo Dominicana, Colorism Comes into Focus as Miss Universe 2024 Celebrates Its Winner

Upon Cassandre Jacques’ Recent Exit from Miss Mundo Dominicana, Colorism Comes into Focus as Miss Universe 2024 Celebrates Its Winner
Credit: Instagram/ @black_iseut

The Miss Universe pageant crowned its latest winner this weekend. Yet, as the world applauds this year’s victor, it is worth reflecting on a sobering truth: in over seven decades of the competition, only six Black women have claimed the title. This figure invites us to consider how systemic biases, particularly colorism, continue to limit opportunities for women of color, not just on the global stage but in regional competitions as well. The recent withdrawal of Cassandre Jacques from Miss Mundo Dominicana 2024 offers a lens through which to examine these issues. 

The Conflicting Expectations In Pageants

Jacques, a model of Haitian descent and a Dominican-born citizen, stepped down from the pageant after facing relentless online harassment and criticism. Introduced as San Juan’s representative during the competition’s press event, Jacques became a target for those questioning her right to represent a Dominican city, exposing entrenched prejudices rooted in anti-Haitian sentiment. In an emotional Instagram post, Jacques explained, “After deep reflection, I want to share a decision that has not been easy for me: I have decided to withdraw from the competition.” She thanked her supporters and assured them this was not the end of her journey but the start of a new chapter. 

Her experience reflects a broader issue within Latin America, where colorism and racism remain pervasive. In the Dominican Republic, these prejudices are intertwined with a complex history of tension with Haiti, often directed at individuals of Haitian descent, even when they are born and raised Dominican. As Shirley Gomez, a bilingual senior writer for HOLA! USA, remarked, “There is a significant portion of Dominicans who harbor resentment towards Haitians, even those who are Dominican-born. This topic is both upsetting and complicated. I feel for this stunning girl who wanted to represent the Dominican Republic in a pageant but faced such severe bullying that she ultimately couldn’t handle it.” 

The backlash against Jacques sheds light on how beauty standards and representation are policed in spaces like pageantry. The contrast between Jacques’s treatment and that of Mariana Downing, who recently won Miss Dominican Republic, is telling. Downing, the daughter of a Dominican and a British parent, was criticized for her inability to speak Spanish fluently but not for her physical appearance. Gomez observed, “It wasn’t about her skin color or hair type, but rather the language she spoke.” This disparity speaks to the role proximity to whiteness and cultural assimilation play in shaping societal acceptance, often to the detriment of Black women. 

Miss Universe’s limited history of Black winners mirrors these dynamics on a global scale. Though the pageant has made strides in celebrating diversity, the numbers remain stark. Six women of color have been winners for over 70 years. This reveals how slowly progress is made in dismantling entrenched biases. The global stage, much like regional platforms, often reflects the exclusionary norms that dominate societies worldwide. 

What’s the Lesson Behind What Happened to Cassandre Jacques?

Jacques’s story forces us to confront these uncomfortable truths. Though her decision to step away from Miss Mundo Dominicana is an act of self-preservation, it is also a statement about the barriers Black women continue to face. It challenges us to question why beauty standards remain so rigid and why Black women and women of color must repeatedly defend their right to occupy spaces meant to celebrate diversity. 

Pageants, while glamorous on the surface, remain mirrors of societal values and biases. For true change to occur, they must not only champion inclusion but actively dismantle the systems that uphold exclusion. Let’s see how much longer this will take.  

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