Peace Kwizera Ndaruhutse is the first runner up Miss Rwanda 2016, and was recently voted Miss Naiades, after winning a Pan African beauty contest in Benin. Beside that she is also the author of ‘Oh Rwandan Child’, a children’s book, runway model and TV presenter. The 20 year old had a chat with Sharon Kantengwa on her career path and what it means winning a continental contest.

What are some of the lessons that you brought home from the Miss Naiades competition?

Some of the lessons I learned is that one cannot have enough of learning. From the Miss Naiades competition, I gained more confidence because I was envisioning the whole country on my head so I had to fight back and act normal the whole time.

Besides that I learnt to live with other cultures because those people can tend to be pushy. We also met a few Rwandans that helped us stay calm, portraying the Rwandans that we are, and the idea of dealing with other people and accepting them for who they are.

What qualities in you, do you think made you stand out and win?

The Rwandan values such as respecting other people for who they are and love our country and portraying it by showing what I stand for in and what I believe in terms of dressing and conduct. I refused to let the rest of the world sink in and kept true to myself and refused compromised the respect of Rwandan values simply because I am far way.

Who and what motivated to bring the crown home?

My mother being there was like the highlight of it all but also the fact that I had never represented my country motivated me. I studied in Uganda and I used to play badminton and would represent Uganda. Sometimes I would play against Rwanda and I wasn’t happy. This time round I was the flag bearer of Rwanda and seeing my mother there pushed me to get things right. Also the idea of seeing how Rwandans were tweeting and posting on Instagram encouraged me to try and stand as much as I can.

Apart from your titles you are also a TV personality, runway model and author of children’s books. Where can you say you want your path to be?

Although my project is initially about career guidance, I have decided that I can try out as many things as I can so that I have general knowledge of so many things. I would like to think that anyone can be what they want to be because I have never pictured myself becoming all the things that I am today. Just the idea of taking up opportunities is what makes it all worthwhile.

Should we think that this is why you are taking your time off university?

I took this year off after high school because I didn’t want to join university and do a course that I am not happy about. I was already passionate about my career and therefore wanted to use Miss Rwanda as a platform to run this project and it has taught me so much as a person but has also pushed me towards the things I’m passionate about. The idea of me being everywhere is because I am still trying to figure out my life.

Where can you say your passion is the most?

My heart is with people, I am such a people’s person but also my heart is with children. Speaking to children that is where I find myself happiest the most. I see myself running the career guidance project in many years to come as I am planning to add vlogging to it. You never know what opportunity might present itself.I was raised in a pastoral home, my mum as an evangelist and my dad was a pastor. Just seeing how they mentored other people encourages me to follow the same path, not just in Christianity but also being the light that shines, through charity and literature.

Last words

I can only thank all the Rwandans who have supported me all through and celebrating with me.