Rwanda holds first beauty pageant since 1994 genocide
Posted by APA-Kigali on Dec 19, 2009, 17:34
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For the first time since the infamous 1994 genocide, Rwanda Friday night crowned a beauty queen at a function that attracted hundreds of spectators filling Gikondo show grounds till wee hours of the night.
With beauties drawn from around the country, contestants were taken through grills that took over two months reducing them to thirteen contestants who managed to reach the finals with the best three selected.
It was an unusual ceremony especially with the country’s history and culture that sees beauty queens as a spoilt lot.
The show managed to hold the audience till the final minute with every one guessing who the first ever Miss Rwanda, capable of representing the country at the Miss World pageant could be.
With the audience mostly from the elite class, the function was worth it, given the glamour and beauty and spiced up by renowned Ugandan MC and host of the recent Tusker project fame, Doctor Mitch Odong , it would not have been any better.
The winner of the hotly contested pageant, Grace Bahati could not hold tears after walking away with a Suzuki Vitala, US dollars 10,000, a one year free airtime on Rwandatel network, a one night at Kivu Serena Hotel and a one year free services at the renowned gynecological clinic in Rwanda.
Speaking after receiving her crown, Bahati urged young women to confidently follow their dreams regardless of what society thinks of them.
“I feel proud to represent my country as a beauty queen and do not regret my decision, young women should not be scared of society but do what they think is right,” Bahati said.
The beauty queen whose parents showed up at the content as a sign of solidarity so the contest as competitive saying girls had the spirit and confident and expect anyone to win.
The show that was organized by Rwandatel, a local telecommunication company, was facilitated by renowned international personalities including former miss France Sonia Rolland, Ugandan designers, Sylvia Awori and Grace Nanyonjo of African woman known to host Miss Uganda Pageants.
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