It is 8:10am as I set off for a special meeting. Twenty minutes later, I am at my destination in Gikondo, a city suburb. A grey gate opens and I’m ushered in by the gatekeeper.

In company of a cameraperson, we are told to wait at the balcony of the house. Minutes later, a tall young girl of light complexion emerges from the house. She is clad in high-waist blue jeans, a grey top and a simple pair of sandals. She cuts a posture of a simple girl next door. She smiles and apologises for making us wait.

We exchange pleasantries and crack a few jokes before she leads us to a beautiful garden for a long conversation. Finally, I was in the home where Elsa Iradukunda, the newly crowned Miss Rwanda was raised. As a child, it was in this home that she hatched a dream of becoming Miss Rwanda.

As a young girl, all that she dreamed about was being a model. She believed modeling would perhaps give her an edge and propel her to becoming Rwanda’s beauty queen one day. This dream was hatched in this home located in Gikondo. The 19-year-old was crowned Miss Rwanda 2017 in a colourful ceremony last Saturday.

Iradukunda is the fourth born in a family of eight (six girls and two boys).

She confesses that most of her childhood friends and siblings dreamt of becoming doctors and politicians, but all she cared about was becoming Miss Rwanda.

"It was my dream ever since I was a kid. My parents can testify to this. Who said dreams don’t come true?” she says with a grin on her face.

Iradukunda was a very tall and shy kid (oh and she still is); but walked with her head straight up and was as graceful as a giraffe. In fact, her parents nicknamed her ‘Giraffe’ and that explains why it is her favourite animal till now.

"Iradukunda always dreamed of being a part of Miss Rwanda but never did we imagine she’d take the crown. She is a prayerful girl and all this is because of prayer. We believed with her and supported her as much as we could just like any other loving parents would. I think it is important that we support our children’s dreams because you never know what would come out of what some would consider petty passion,” Iradukunda’s mother, Christine Mukandekezi, says with pride.

On March 23, she will celebrate her 19th birthday, but she prefers one identifies her as a 19-year-old "for now because I am a big girl and Miss Rwanda, right,” she jokes.

But it’s until you meet Iradukunda that you get to understand why she was crowned Miss Rwanda 2017. Her intellect and sense of humour grows with the conversation, her beauty is deeply embedded in the skin and her smile is as natural as it gets.

She has always been a "home girl”, save for a few exceptions when she is at school; out with friends (she insists occasionally) or during Sunday morning when she has gone to church. The rest of the time, she is in her bedroom or in the living room watching television.

"I went to a boarding school and during school holidays, I would spend much of the time at home doing homework or watching beauty contests and talent shows. Those are my favourite TV shows,” said the King David High School graduate.

She scored 49 aggregates in the national Advanced Level exams.

After watching several episodes of beauty contests, she was convinced she would one day take part in Miss Rwanda beauty pageant.

She vividly recalls when she had just finished O’level in 2014, and while watching Doriane Kundwa being crowned Miss Rwanda; she turned to her parents and told them that, after S.6, she would give a shot at the national beauty pageant.

"They have been supportive and loving. I think they deserved this crown more than I do,” Iradukunda says. The last journey to the crown

"It was a tough journey! The girls were really sharp. To be honest, all 15 girls deserved the crown but there is always that advantage that ticks in, even at the last minute that determines the winner. I wasn’t the most charming or the smartest of all but was simply lucky. God answered my prayers,” she says.

During the final days in the boot camp, all the girls would convene to pray and she reveals that they would make the most unselfish prayer she ever heard.

"Due to the tight competition, we all prayed that "let the best girl win.” Am I the best? I don’t think so. But there was a bit of respect and sister-love and that’s why we are friends now,” she notes.

Iradukunda adds that, "I actually meant it when I said, during the grand finale, that the secret behind winning was ‘praying’. When I put my mind to something and pray over it, God is always faithful to me.”

Her role model is the First Lady Jeannette Kagame because "she has inspired a generation of courageous and confident girls and women who can do great things for their families and country.”

The former King’s Palace, Urukari, is her favourite place in Rwanda due to the rich cultural history the place is endowed with.

Iradukunda is a passionate swimmer. She has won a number of medals in swimming competitions; it perhaps explains why swimming and talent shows are some of her favourite memories during boot camp at Golden Tulip in Nyamata.

The honeymoon is over

Even as her reign is hardly a week old, Iradukunda insists that the honeymoon is over and it’s high time her managers got her down to work. Regarding her Made-in-Rwanda project, she says it will start with encouraging the youth to buy and use locally made products.

She also reveals her willingness to work with fellow contestants, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and local tour operators in promoting Tembera U’ Rwanda campaign—a drive that is aimed at promoting domestic tourism.

"All the girls had very great ideas and we can work on them together. Let us get started. We don’t have much time. Just 12 months? I am ready now,” she says.

Iradukunda says that all the former contestants have formed a WhatsApp platform where they will keep in touch. She reveals that all the girls will continue to implement their projects and they will work together to realise their respective undertakings.

A rude welcome to the celebrity world

It’s almost a week since she was crowned Miss Rwanda but the limelight has been all but an easy ride so far.

"Media and social media specifically, has shocked me the most by focusing on less relevant and false information. But you have to be strong and prepared for such baseless reports,” she says with an aura of confidence.

At this point, Iradukunda’s face changes suddenly. She stares blankly before getting engulfed in deep thoughts. Then she finally breaks the silence: "Some claim that I lied about my age but for Christ’s sake why would someone say that. Seriously!”

Becoming the national Beauty Queen comes with lots of better offers, speak of the brand new Suzuki Swift, worth Rwf 15 million, and the monthly salary of Rwf800, 000 courtesy of Cogebank, among other promotional offers. But Iradukunda says she will miss her normal humble life, mostly jumping on a motorbike.

"I really like motos (commercial motorbikes). They are fun. I will be forced to reduce on my movements too but this is all for the good of this crown. I don’t need instructions, I know what it means to be Miss Rwanda.”

When asked about her love life, Iradukunda emphatically says she is single and not even planning to date until at least 2018. But she says her new "baby” (the Suzuki swift) and her phone will be her "boyfriend” for now.

Unfortunately, she will wait a bit longer to drive her "baby” but if the excitement of sitting in her car is anything to go by, she can’t wait to get hold of a driver’s license.

"Isn’t it weird how someone gets a car without knowing how to drive? But who cares I will drive it soon,” Iradukunda jokes.

Away from worldly ventures, she is a devoted believer. She goes to Evangelical Restoration Church in Gikondo.

But she must be ready to answer a few questions from her pastor, the head of her Church, Joshua Masasu, who has publicly criticised the beauty pageant. But Iradukunda says that she is, "here to prove that a Christian girl can gracefully take on this crown and use it for the development of her country and for the glory of God.”

Regarding the possibility of wearing a bikini when her responsibility calls, the answer seems to be a "yes and no.”

"I know that international beauty pageants require us to wear attire that doesn’t necessarily fit within our values and culture. I will have to think about it.”

After a thoughtful moment she says, "But I don’t think I would wear a bikini—I am not sure if my parents would be happy, so I would say NO!”

Iradukunda will be the second Rwandan beauty queen to represent her country on the Miss World stage. She has a huge responsibility, among others. Her predecessor Jolly Mutesi was among the top 24 on the global stage.

"I am looking forward to taking part in the Miss World pageant. I want that crown for Rwanda. Let’s wait and see,” Iradukunda said.

After a long interaction it was time to leave. As I walked away from her parent’s home, as the gate closed behind me, I turned back for a second to have a glimpse at the abode where it all started. Her journey to the crown started here and it has come to a successful end in the seat of Miss Rwanda 2017. Indeed dreams come true!

People share their views on Iradukunda’s win

Linda Umutoniwase, second runner-up Miss Rwanda 2017

Elsa is a brave and courageous girl with a big heart.

She did what she could to cheer us up during boot camp and she was really friendly and kind.

In all honesty, she deserves the crown.

Fanique Isimbi, fourth place

Elsa is a God-fearing and very intelligent young lady.

Her sense of maturity gave her an edge over most of the contestants and won her the crown.

I am so happy for her and we came out of boot camp as a family.

We vowed to help her achieve her goals as Miss Rwanda.

Irene Rwizihirangabo, Miss Rwanda boot camp matron and trainer

For the first time, I was not sure of the top three competitors of Miss Rwanda.

The crown could’ve gone to anyone of the 15 girls.

But Elsa is a humble girl, caring and really funny.

If you hang around her, you’ll realise that she is a principled young lady.

You can’t undervalue her natural beauty.

If she gets good counsel, she will take the Miss Rwanda brand to the highest level possible.

Carine Mukabagabo, Miss Rwanda 2017 contestant

Elsa is kind, lovely, a little crazy and funny.

But at the same time, she is a calm and ambitious.

I would say every girl deserved to win but Elsa was meant to beat the best contestant.

The girls were great contenders but her ‘magic’ won and none of us were surprised by the results.

Carine Mukabagabo, Miss Rwanda 2017 contestant

editorial@newtimes.co.rw