Alice asks what makes an African woman beautiful

Changes in opportunities for women in many parts of the world have meant more freedom, more financial independence and more choice for many. But one thing never seems to change for women over the years, questions about what it is to be beautiful!

Zambian student, Alice Simushi Mwanaumo has been very interested in this topic.

She noticed that many of her female friends felt under pressure to look more western, thinner and lighter skinned, but her male friends assured her that curvy dark women were still their favourite. Can a woman win she wondered?

For BBC World Service, Alice has been out at the Manda Hill shopping mall in Lusaka to speak to men and women about what they think about beauty.

What it is like to report for the BBC

Alice says: The experience was awesome though it hit me hard that women seem to be generally harder to get to cooperate or participate in impromptu radio interviews.

I still remember some of the scowls and accusing stares I received from a number of women as I walked around Manda Hill Mall with my microphone and tape recorder!

Other than that, it was exhilarating, kind of scary, but fun to talk with people and survey the scene of a typical shopping mall-with its shoppers, most spending money on either food or home products and of course the inevitable beauty enhancing products such as clothes and make-up!

Alice Simushi Mwanaumo, Zambian student