B’rau women of Dak Me Village in the highlands province of Kon Tum used to have a very unique way of expressing beauty with giant earrings and tattoos.
Visitors to Dak Me Village, Bo Y Commune, Ngoc Hoi District, Kon Tum Province, may be shocked when meeting with the women who were once considered to be the most beautiful here.
Until the 20th century, B’rau young women used to have a very unique way of making-up. Any girl getting married would have her ears pierced and she would gradually enlarge her earrings. The bigger the earrings she wore, the more adoration she would get.
Here they do not wear precious jewelry made from silver, gold or diamonds. They used to wear a special jewelry made from elephant’s tusks.
Besides the ears, women from rich families here would have tattoos on their faces. The patterns can be a range of things, such as two parallel lines, a cross or a circle.
These tattoos are not only for showing beauty but also a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Therefore, people from poor families are not allowed to have the tattoo.
At present, these customs are fading away. The village has only about 10 elderly women aged over 80 wearing giant earrings with a diameter of up to 10 centimetres. They also use bamboo or plastic bottles to wear.
There are only two women, 88-year-old Nang Nang and 101-year-old Y Bu, who are from rich families whom now have the unique tattoos.
88 year old Nang Nang shows off her 10 centimetre earring holes. This particular earing is made from bamboo
Her fading tattoos are visible to this day
101-year-old Y Bu with tattoos on her forehead and chin, considered a sign of beauty and wealth in her time
