The Most Beautiful African Girl in Ireland contest is as much about culture as it is about looks. Kusi Okamura meets the organisers and some of thisyear's hopefuls

In a small rehearsal hall off Parnell Square in Dublin, normally used as a t'ai-chi centre, 12 women are busy wrapping lengths of bright material around themselves, the beat of African music playing in the background. This is the final dress rehearsal before the big night. They help each other tie the material into skirts and tops. They are now wearing beautiful outfits, but you can see that even bin liners would look like haute couture on these girls.

Some are obviously enjoying themselves as they chat and apply make-up. "I'm just here for a laugh," says Lisette Kalassa (18), who is originally from Congo. In her deepest Dublin accent she says she is a singer in an R & B band but wants to be a fashion designer. For her this is "good fun and a great way to meet people".

Others are a little quieter and maybe a little more serious about the event. Alice Ngugi (23), a Kenyan who has been in Ireland for more than a year, is studying beauty therapy. She says she has entered because she "feels ready for the competition". The mere mention of winning makes her eyes light up.

Tameeka Jolobe (25), from South Africa, has travelled from New Ross, in Co Wexford, for the rehearsal. When asked why she is entering this year she flashes a perfect smile and says brightly: "Everyone keeps saying I should be a model, so I thought why not give it a try. What do you think?" Needless to say, she gets the thumbs up.

From throughout Africa, these women will compete this week for the title of Most Beautiful African Girl in Ireland. Although it may sound like the name of a twee Hollywood movie about the madcap antics of a small Irish village, this is the second annual beauty contest organised by the African community in Ireland.

The brainchild of Tina Akinola Jinad, a Nigerian businesswoman, the contest was initially set up as a cultural event. The owner of a beauty salon in Phibsboro, Dublin, Akinola Jinad felt there was not enough information about African culture available to Irish people.

She decided to use her beauty background to set up an African beauty contest that would include a showcase of African music, costume and dance. "I wanted to educate Irish people in a social atmosphere where African and Irish people were able to mix." From their introductory dance on stage to their elaborate hairstyles, everything in the beauty show is African.

Each contestant will be representing her country of origin and have an opportunity to talk about her culture. Stella Flynn (20), the sister of last year's winner, will be flying the flag for Kenya. "I'm delighted to be representing Kenya, because there aren't that many Kenyan girls here. I hope to make my country proud."

As a beauty contest the event has been a great success, with the winner last year going on to represent VIP magazine in the Miss Ireland finals. Leah Flynn was the first black woman in 20 years to reach the finals. Originally from Kenya, Leah (25) now lives with her family in Glenageary and is a Montessori teacher in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

Her success was seen as particularly significant for the African community in Ireland. "That showed us that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that maybe one day there could be a black woman sitting on the throne of Miss Ireland," says Akinola Jinad.

From the leading tribe in Kenya, the Kikuyu, Leah Flynn is characteristically tall (six feet) and thin. She has always wanted to be a model. When modelling in Ireland, however, she had her first contact with the alien concept of "dieting".

A size 12, she says she was constantly being told by people in the business to shed weight, something that had never happened in Africa.

Culturally, weight is not an issue for women in Africa, says Akinola Jinad. This is the major difference between African and European ideas of beauty. "In Africa a woman has curves in the right places. Even if she has a little more weight it means she is being well looked after." She says that she has noticed African girls being affected by the diet culture in Ireland. "My word of advice to them is that you may be skinny but your colour is still the same. You should be proud of who you are and just be yourself."

Leah Flynn is now studying for a BA in geography and statistics at University College Dublin at night, but she hopes to become a children's TV presenter.

She says her experience as a beauty queen has given her the confidence to follow her dreams. It is her success that is in the minds of this year's hopefuls, particularly Stella, who says she hopes to "keep it in the family".

"Seeing Leah win last year gave me the courage, the nerve, to enter this year," she says quietly. "She said you can do it as well." Stella hopes that by using Leah's formula of being herself she will be "onto a winner".

Most of the contestants are aspiring models or fashion designers, and they hope the competition will be a springboard to other opportunities. Though there is the €1,000 prize money, it is the title of Ireland's "African Queen" that could open doors.

Beauty competitions have generated strong opposition around the world, however. Akinola Jinad's home country, Nigeria, which gave the Miss World competition its first black winner, faced weeks of protests and rioting by the Muslim population when it tried to host the event last year. The mere mention of the Miss World contest evokes strong opinions.

Femi Tiwo from Nigeria is an African-music DJ on JazzFM and the music co-ordinator for the contest. He feels Nigeria was misrepresented in the reporting of the event.

"People were saying that Nigeria is a Muslim country, which is wrong; the majority of people are Christian. There were also many people who wanted to have the event in the country - it would have been good for the country."

And what does he think about this African beauty contest? "I think it's a good idea, because Irish people can see that there are beautiful people in Africa too." It is this representation of the black community on a level recognised by Irish people that, Akinola Jinad believes, makes this event special.

"This is a celebration of African beauty and culture which many Irish people enjoyed last year."

But she doesn't agree with the theory that beauty contests are degrading to women. "This is the exact opposite," she says. "This is empowering women. It is organised for women, by women and it is saying we are not going to hide away."

And so, finally, the €1,000 question: what are they looking for in this year's winner? "She can be tall, short, fat or thin, but she must be a true African woman and an ambassador for African women in Ireland."

The Most Beautiful African Girl in Ireland contest is at Liberty Hall, Dublin, at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are €20; information from 01-8303694/087-2296371