VO

Prisons in South America are often known for their brutality and abuse of human rights. However one such prison, in Bogota Colombia is changing this image. 

Prison Director

The Idea of the Beauty Pageant, in women's prison began, as a way of lifting the self esteem, of these women in prison, for this moment they feel like women, and they feel beautiful

VO

I left the prison director powdering her nose and followed Richard the guard.  Colombia has a national obsession with beauty pageants - and this was a big day for the prison. 

Richard the Guard

Give her a hand over here

VO

 The 1230 prisoners here are regarded as some of the most dangerous women in country. Their crimes represent many of the continuing problems in todays Colombia.

Prisoner 1

I have been here two months but I have fourteen more years. I am here for drug trafficking.

Prisoner 2

I was a doctor helping paramilitaries. Paramilitaries and guerrillas are considered terrorists. But how can a doctor know? We treat those who come to us.

Prisoner 3

I am here for stealing and carrying guns.

I have been here for 19 months.

Woman

As Richard took me into the 6 divided cell blocks, one block for each category of prisoner, I found that over 50 foreigners are incarcerated here. They don't find it easy.

Prisoner 4

Whats my story?  I am here for getting caught with drugs. I have been here for getting caught with drugs and I have 3 years left.

- how is life here?

- how is life here?  I am sick of these people, I am sick of this water, I am sick of this weather, I am sick of everything in here.  I don't like this country and I don't like the people in it.

VO

Excitement was rising in the jail.

The waiting prisoners were desperate for the contest to begin.

The chosen queens, one from each cell block, prepared themselves. 

They moment arrived when they were released.

VO

Invited dance and music groups began to play. The prisoners were ecstatic.

For 40 years Colombia's has suffered a bloody conflict between Guerillas, Government and Paramilitaries.

Bernadina, was a feared paramilitary commander convicted of multiple murders. She believes the conflict continues today purely for economic reasons.

Bernadina

The problem with Colombia is so much unemployment and hunger. For young people to get ahead these days, one way is to join the guerrillas or paramilitaries. Because these groups can pay a decent wage, and like this they can support their families.

VO

Due to the decades of violence - Colombia has the second highest number of internally displaced people in the world. The majority of these women have been displaced and fell into drug trafficking in order to survive.

Macy

I have been here one week.  Because I was living in a drugs den. Displaced people can find refuge in drug dens. Because the rent is so cheap, then they start selling drugs.

VO

Back at the Beauty Queen contest, a jury consisting of TV soap stars, a celebraty Horoscope reader and wives of generals were about to decide the winner.

The Queens who made the final 3, were a convicted arms dealer, a document forger and a cocaine smuggler.

Angie the arms dealer won the day.   The national press rushed to interview her - she would appear across the evening news. The prisoners decided to run riot and celebrate.

Guards danced with inmates and the jury danced with every beauty queen they could lay their hands on.

It was hard to remember that this was actually a maximum security prison.

The lives of these inmates portray a Colombia still suffering violent conflict, drug trafficking and the trauma of millions of displaced people.

Beauty pagents cannot solve these women's problems - but they do allow momentary escape for those exhausted by the seemingly endless nature of Colombia's conflict.