Women of the Mursi tribe wear lip and ear plates. They usually have their lips cut at the age of 15 or 16. A small clay plate is then inserted into the lip. Through the years, larger plates are inserted, causing the lip to stretch. The larger the plate, the more the woman is worth before she gets married. It is said that the clay plates were originally used to make them ugly, thus preventing capture by slave traders. Although very unique and part of their tradition, the Mursi women only wear the plates for a short time because they are heavy and uncomfortable.