Beauty pageants such as Ghana's Most Beautiful (GMB) normally select a lady to serve as a symbolic representation of their collective identity to a larger audience. The common tastes including fashion and lifestyle of members of a society collectively form and represent the tastes and lifestyle of its people; therefore the fashion and culture of a particular time symbolize the spirit of the times. Cultural principles refer to the cultural values that are categorized, organized and evaluated in each society. The principles governing standards in one region or country may not be same for other places. For example, the reasons for wearing of beads in one region may differ from that of other regions in Ghana. Standards are held to when they are documented and subsequently in line with cultural values. In a discussion with two members of the GMB organizing team during a national audition at TV3 premises in August 2017, they admitted that there was no comprehensive policy document spelling out beauty standards and guidelines of the pageant. The research adapts a sequential exploratory design with a population made up of all participants of GMB. The purpose of the study was to find out the beauty standards of GMB pageant as culturally projected within the beauty pageant. It was found out that the pageant occasionally deviates from its main focus of projecting Ghanaian cultural values. It should therefore regularly refer to its objectives while exhibiting all its activities.

In the African continent and for that matter Ghana, little is written or known about beauty pageantry. Viewers for the past 14 years, watch Ghana's Most Beautiful (GMB) yearly without enough documentation on the relevance of its concept. This article expounds the main concept of the pageant and its possible significance on the Ghanaian society. Descriptive research design was employed to obtain answers to questions regarding its activities. The Population consisted of participants from contestants' hometowns while the sample was purposively selected according to various stakeholders involved. Research instruments employed were observation, interviews and content analyses. The study revealed that the pageant's concept did not only align with its focus, but also promoted businesses and adoption of cultural values. It is a yearly event full of educative and brilliant scenes geared towards possible live transformations. It is recommended that GMB continues to evaluate its yearly events to avoid deviation from concept into undesired practices.

Clothing is an important factor in the interpretation of body image which affects the response behaviour of the beholder. A person's appearance profoundly affects the way he or she is treated by others at home, social gathering, market, job area, office or school. Selecting clothing requires careful considerations. The purpose of the study was to find out external influences on students' choice of clothing in Takoradi Polytechnic. The research design was descriptive. Questionnaires and focus group discussion guide were used. Departments of Fashion and Accounting participated with respondents chosen through stratified random sampling. Sample consisted of 207 with a total population of 699 students, 77 males and 130 females. Study revealed students dress casually for lectures instead of formally because casual wear could take any form. Male students' were normally driven internally indicating individuality while female students were mostly externally directed. Both sexes would least choose clothing for warm relationship. The more individuals they were aware of their inner feelings, the more differentiation they exhibited in their choice of clothing. This is contrary to the general perception that students or the youth choice of clothing is socially driven. However, some external factors were also quite significant in students' choices and should be given close attention if youth clothing are undesirable. This calls for continues education to streamline vital issues that are of significance to academic institutions and the African society as a whole.

For the past thirteen years, Ghanaians have watched beauty pageants including TV3's Ghana's Most Beautiful (GMB) on television stations without adequate knowledge of policies governing them. This paper examined the purpose, policies and main activities of the GMB pageant. The pageant is organized by a television station, TV3 in Ghana to showcase the most beautiful aspects of Ghanaian culture using the female gender as a powerful symbol of communication. Descriptive research was employed in the study. The target and accessible population comprised of participants of the GMB pageant with a sample of forty-five ( 45) respondents. The GMB pageant requires Ghanaian ladies with potential and ages ranging from 20 to 30 years. Its activities of audition, regional durbars, in-house camping and reality shows aim at showcasing Ghanaian beauty from the cultural and traditional points of view. Every year, a new theme is given to guide main activities of the pageant which sometimes need clarification. It is recommended that organizers of GMB communicate as much as possible through publishing or advertisement the objectives and policies governing GMB activities to the Ghanaian public for greater acceptance or endorsement.