Banking on the experience she gained from participating in Miss Rwanda 2015, Miss Heritage Rwanda 2015, Joannah Keza Bagwire, is anxious but determined to shine at the Miss Heritage International competition. But most importantly raising her country’s flag comes first. 

The 19-year-old will leave the country on October 30 and head to South Africa for a boot camp before taking part in the grand finale on November 15 at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

"This is a big opportunity to represent my country, but I also know that it comes with challenges. However, as a proactive person when it comes to facing challenges, I handle them well when they come,” she said during the interview on Wednesday.

The girls will be required to engage in different activities during the boot camp phase that will prepare them for the grand finale.

Contestants will also be required to participate in activities that reflect the pageant’s underlying concept of promoting heritage and tourism. They are to present their work as part of the competition.

"Activities include preparing our country’s respective traditional dishes, showcasing our culture through traditional dances and talking to others about our culture. I’m currently undergoing some training on how to promote and exhibit our cultural artifacts,” she said.

Bagwire is working together with Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture (RALC), Rwanda Museums and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to ensure that her preparations go as smoothly as possible.

"I’m currently processing my travel documents with UNESCO. With the traditional showcasing of cultural artifacts, I have help from Rwanda museums through the association of Abakecurub’Umuco and RALC is helping me with information on our culture,” the beauty contestant said.

She also said that she’ll take with her some cultural artifacts to showcase, such as traditional wear, walking sticks, gourds and baskets. She added that her preparations are going well and she has faith that she’ll make her country proud.

"As Winston Churchill said, ‘Sometimes doing your best is not good enough. Sometimes you must do what is required.’ As much as I would like to take the crown, my main focus is to represent my country well. If I win, that will be a bonus but this is a competition and nothing is guaranteed,” she said.

According to the organisers, the theme this year is "Different Colours, One People.”

"We are in the advanced stages of the preparations and we expect 72 countries. The purpose of this event is to broadcast pride in our individuality, promotion of education, restoration and enhancement of tangible heritage using beauty queens as role models to society,” said Ronald Tisauke, the vice president, founder and international relations officer of the Miss heritage organisation.

Bagwire who looks up to her father says that the best advice she got from him was to be "a strong woman and respect herself” and she hopes to stand on these pillars during the competition.

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