Three Wodaabe women, all beautiful and unmarried, are the judges of the men's beauty contest. According to custom, one of these women asks the winner to be her husbans. The men will parade in front of the judges, smiling and trying to look beautiful. The judges choose the top three winners with a smile or a touch on the shoulder. The losers sadly walk away. They hav to win a bride the customary way-with a gift of cattle.