Twenty two-year-old Vanessa Raisa Uwase was the first runner up of the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant 2015. She considers herself easy to please and fun to be around. After high school in 2013, she worked as a flight attendant with RwandAir. She is currently pursuing a degree in Mass Communication at Mount Kenya University. Uwase spoke to Society Magazine’s Donah Mbabazi about her "mature” look and love for long skirts and dresses.

How would you describe your dress sense?

Well I wouldn’t say I have a specific style, but I am more into the casual smart look because it goes with any occasion. I like long skirts or dresses in general because they can be worn at formal and informal events. That is my style and I think it’s because I started working immediately after high school, so I kind of missed that typical teen stage.

What’s your favourite clothing item?

I like skirts, especially long ones. Like I said they blend with anything and can be worn anywhere. They are simply elegant. I also like jeans;it’s just that they don’t usually fit with all occasions like a skirt does.

Where do you shop for clothes?

Well to be honest, I don’t have a specific place that I shop. I mostly prefer getting clothes of my own. I prefer looking for a designer because sometimes the clothes that I’m looking for are not the ones that I find and it’s hard to get the perfect size.

What do you consider when shopping for clothes?

I do not look for brands, it’s not like I don’t like them but if I get something that I like, I take it. The first thing that I consider is the quality of the cloth and the size. The other thing is the colour. I prefer bright colours since I’m dark skinned. Throughout the Miss Rwanda pageant, I wore bright colours mostly.

What is your favourite fashion accessory?

I love pearls because they are elegant. They actually bring out that elegant part in me, which I love.

What’s your favourite clothing item on a guy?

I love watches and shoes, though shoes grab my attention most. They bring out a guy’s personality.

What’s your favourite scent?

I love Donna Karan New York (DKNY); it’s the apple hint in it that I’m in love with. Not that it’s the only one I use, it’s the one I have been using for the longest time. I have been using it since I was nineteen.

What is the most expensive fashion accessory that you own?

A pair of shoes, high heels obviously. I bought them here and even though I can’t mention the price, they were really expensive.

Any fashion advice?

Wear what you want; wear what makes you comfortable because elegance is not based on the clothes that you wear. It’s based on how comfortable and beautiful you feel when you’re wearing a particular outfit.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw