[PHOTOS]: Miss Rwanda 2016: North, West pick reps

Northern and Western provinces were the first to pick their respective representatives in Miss Rwanda 2016 as the search for the girl who will replace reigning Miss Rwanda Doriane Kundwa got underway in earnest.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Stephen Kalimba

Western Province winners, L-R, Balbine Umutoni, 20 years old, 173cm, 55kgs; Jolly Mutesi, 20 years old, 175cm, 54kgs and Umuhumuriza Usanase Samantha, 21 years old, 174cm, 49kgs pose on Sunday. ( Faustin Niyigena)

Northern and Western provinces were the first to pick their respective representatives in Miss Rwanda 2016 as the search for the girl who will replace reigning Miss Rwanda Doriane Kundwa got underway in earnest.

The hunt for the country’s next beauty queen kicked off on Saturday in the Northern provincial town of Musanze before Western Province held its own auditions in the provincial town of Rubavu on Sunday.

Judge Eminante Mugabushaka (C) speaks to a contestant as Mike Karangwa (L) and Carine Urusaro look on. (All photos by Faustin Niyigena)

In Rubavu, five of the six girls who entered the annual competition and showed up at Gorilla Lake Kivu Hotel, passed the initial hurdle before only three were picked to proceed in the competition.

Apparently, the panel, composed of Mike Karangwa, Carine Rusaro Umutoni and Jeanne de Chantal Mugabushaka alias Mama Eminente, did not have hard time picking from the lot.

Winners in Northern Province pose for a picture. (L-R): Pascaline Umutoni Harimana, 18 years old, 57.6kg, 175cm; Sheillah Mujyambere, 20 years old; 50kgs; 175cm; Sharifa Umuhoza, 21 years old, 57kgs, 174cm; and Solange Uwamahoro, 21 years old, 47.7kgs, 170cm.

They put the girls to test, taking in consideration their beauty and elegance, intelligence and expression, and in the end it was Barbine Umutoni, Jolly Umutesi and Samantha Umuhumuriza Usanase who got the nod to the finale.

Sandrine Umunezero and Grace Umutoni didn't get a pass from the judges and were only encouraged to try their luck next time.

Balbine Umutoni, 20, Miss Rwanda 2015's fourth runner-up registers again for this year's Miss Rwanda in Western Province.

A beaming Umutoni, who is trying her luck on the coveted crown for the second time having emerged fourth in the previous edition, said she owes her courage to her father who urged her to have another go this year.

The former Miss High School 2014 said she hopes to perform better this year than she did last time round.

Jolly Mutesi (R), one of Western Province winners chats with Grace Umutoni who couldn't make it during the audition in Rubavu yesterday.

According to Rusaro, one of the Miss Rwanda 2016 judges, this year's contestants have showed a lot of promise, pitching great ideas, but added that some contestants, in a bid to overcome timidity and competition, end up becoming overconfident, which in itself is not good.

(L-R): Western province contestants Grace Umutoni, 20; Sandrine Umunezero, 19; Samantha Usanase Umuhumuriza, 21; Balbine Umutoni, 20 and Jolly Mutesi, 20.

"We are urging the girls not to just focus on the prizes. Miss Rwanda is about contributing to society and leaving a mark and projects that will leave on after you have passed the crown on. It is not about the limelight," she said.

Meanwhile, earlier on Saturday, 13 girls showed up in the Musanze audition with only five making the cut.

Judge Eminante Mugabushaka (2ndL) poses with the Western Province winners yesterday at Gorilla Hotel in Rubavu.

(L-R): Northern Province contestants, Pascaline Umutoni Harimana, Cynthia Umutoniwabo, Solange Uwamahoro, Sharifa Umuhoza and Sheillah Mujyambere.

(L-R): Northern Province contestants, Pascaline Umutoni Harimana, Cynthia Umutoniwabo, Solange Uwamahoro, Sharifa Umuhoza and Sheillah Mujyambere. Faustin Niyigena

Winners and members Cogebanque, the Miss Rwanda's main sponsor pose in a group photo. (All photos by Faustin Niyigena)

In the end, four of the five girls; Pascaline Umutoni, Sheillah Mujyambere, Sharifa Umuhoza and Solange Uwamahoro got a pass to the next stage, with Cynthia Umutoniwabo missing out.

The next auditions will take place in Huye on January 16.

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