Princess Essex and the Kursaal pageant

In 1908, Princess Dinubolu of Senegal decided to enter a beauty pageant at the Kursaal Ballroom in Southend, even though many minorities at the time were restricted by several "colour bars" which prevented her and others from doing certain things, including participating in an event such as this.

Anne Odeke has written a play based on the true events of the first black woman to enter a beauty pageant, and will be taking on the starring role in 'Princess Essex' at Shakespeare's famous venue.

Picture credit: Shakespeare's Globe.