A traveler, Tara Katmis, had an unexpected experience while crossing the border from The Gambia into Senegal. During a routine check, border control officers found tampons in her purse and, unfamiliar with the item, asked her to explain what they were.
Faced with a language barrier, Katmis decided to demonstrate what tampons are used for. She humorously described the situation as “hilarious across the board,” with both her and the officers laughing at the explanation.
Katmis recalled how the officers pulled out multiple tampons from her purse and asked her to open them. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, she took the opportunity to explain the item, using gestures to bridge the language gap.
The interaction ended on a light-hearted note, and after a thorough search of their belongings, her group was allowed to continue their journey into Senegal. Katmis understood the caution from border officials, especially since there were no X-ray scanners at the crossing.
Traveler’s Hilarious Border Tampon Incident in Senegal Sparks Viral Conversation on Period Poverty
After the incident, Katmis shared her experience on TikTok, where it quickly went viral, accumulating over 13.4 million views. In her video, she humorously noted that explaining a tampon at a border crossing was not something she had expected to do.
Viewers shared similar experiences in the comments, with some recalling similar situations at airports in other countries like Dubai and Ghana, where border officials were unfamiliar with feminine hygiene products.
As the video gained traction, it sparked conversations about a more serious issue—period poverty. Commenters highlighted the lack of access to menstrual products for many women and girls worldwide. Statistics from organizations like ActionAid show that many girls in Africa and other regions miss school due to the lack of proper menstrual products, underscoring the importance of addressing period poverty globally.
Katmis expressed surprise at the widespread attention her video received but was pleased that it raised awareness about period poverty. She acknowledged that while the video was light-hearted, it brought attention to a significant issue faced by many women globally.
Katmis, who shares her travel experiences and recommendations online, hopes that this small moment of humor can contribute to more people recognizing and discussing the problem.
