Whoever said “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder,” clearly had not seen the “beautiful” women of the Mursi Tribe in Omo Valley Ethiopia.

The Mursi women paint their bodies and face white and wear the lip plates. The lips get cut at the tender age of 15 or 16; a small clay plate is then inserted into the lip.

Through the years, larger plates are inserted into the lip causing it to stretch. The larger the clay plate, the more the woman is worth before she gets married.

“It is said that the clay plates were originally used to prevent capture by slave traders and neighbouring tribes. They made them undesirable in order to protect them.”

Although very unique and part of their tradition, the Mursi women only wear the plates for a short time because they are so heavy and uncomfortable.