It might not seem of importance to one, to know if a Miss World pageant was going on in the South Sudan region. But it comes as great relief and a promise of a better tomorrow, to know that it is.

In a region plagues with civil war for the past few years, it is quite surprising to see the turnout at a beauty pageant increasing every year.

Arual Longar had to compete with a total of 60 girls for the title of Miss South Sudan 2017. She was 9 years old when she decided to become a beauty queen. Growing up in refugee camps, the South Sudanese native watched her aunt compete on the world stage and dreamed of doing the same.

Today, Miss World South Sudan 2017 says she's harnessing her powers to preach love and unity in her conflict-torn country.

"South Sudan is a place of war," the 25-year-old said. "But it can't stop us from achieving things."

Beauty With a Purpose sounds true for South Sudan and a Miss World pageant continuing amidst the war, famine and devastation, is only a promise for the women of the country that better things are yet to come.

Held in Freedom Hall, the main event venue for the elite of the capital, Juba, the pageant bears the signatures of any beauty contest worldwide. The young women compete on stage in front of hundreds of people and are judged on appearance and performance as well as intellect.

"This is a positive thing for women," said Shelina Doro, a women's protection officer with the United Nations. Even though beauty pageants can be "up for interpretation," she said that at the moment in South Sudan "this is what we have."

"Whatever it is they want to do, we help them push it out," Eva Lopa, one of the longtime judges, told The Associated Press. She said many of the young women choose issues close to home such as HIV/AIDS or campaigns to help the elderly who have suffered from years of conflict.

However, Funmi Balogun, a women’s rights activist working with UN Women in South Sudan, said of the event: “It continues to perpetuate stereotypes of women, providing unrealistic expectations to young women and girls that looks are the most important when they could be focusing on other things that show the whole range of skills and capacities that they have.”

Organisers defend the pageant by the positive effects that it has caused for the female population of the country. It has successfully driven attention towards the plight of the women in the country. 

No matter which side you are from concerning pageants, a Miss World amidst violence, is only a sign of the people ready to reclaim their normal lives and beautiful country.