In some cases the females retain the juvinile colors ,as do the subordinate males , and the dominate male /males will flaunt the colors that set them apart.
This can be very frustrating in species such as Aulonacara when you have a particularly belligerant male and all the others stay brown leaving only one colorful fish in your tank.

As the dominant males move on new males take thier place and show the dominant colors.