MONROVIA, Liberia – In a sweeping move to protect its national image and ensure credibility, the Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) has announced an immediate and indefinite suspension of all beauty pageants and related activities within the country.
The directive, issued Thursday, January 29, 2026, imposes two critical restrictions. First, it places an immediate halt on any individual representing Liberia as a queen or titleholder on any platform—domestic or international—without the LNTA’s prior written approval. Second, it suspends the issuance of all permits to pageant organizers indefinitely.
The LNTA stated that the moratorium will remain in force until it establishes and enforces a “standardized approval and compliance framework” for the industry. The Authority aims to align Liberia’s pageantry sector with what it calls “internationally recognized standards governing cultural representation, branding, safeguarding, and ethical conduct.”
“This directive is issued to protect Liberia’s national image, ensure credibility, and align all national and international representations with established global benchmarks and best practices,” the LNTA’s announcement read.
The move suggests significant concerns over how the country has been represented abroad and the internal management of pageants. The LNTA indicated that future approvals for events or representatives will be contingent on “demonstrable compliance” across several areas. These include robust governance structures, transparent selection processes, concrete participant welfare policies, alignment with Liberia’s national brand, and adherence to international protocols.
The announcement effectively freezes an entire sector, impacting organizers, promoters, contestants, and affiliated businesses. It signals a major regulatory overhaul for an industry that has often served as a high-profile, though sometimes controversial, platform for national promotion.
The LNTA advised all stakeholders to take note of the immediate changes and stated that detailed guidelines outlining new approval requirements and compliance procedures will be published in due course.
The Authority, tasked with promoting Liberia responsibly, can be contacted for further information at its offices on Warner Ave, Monrovia, or via its official website and email.
