Over the past nine years, Rwandan beauty queens would participate in Miss Supranational beauty contest, but without success in one of the world’s biggest and prestigious pageants, especially because there was no support locally.
However, two local event management firms, KS Ltd and Innovations Ltd, have confirmed their partnership with the Miss Supranational organisers to bring the pageant to Rwanda. The partnership was confirmed last week, during a news conference, and the organisers said that the contest is a good opportunity for Rwandan women to showcase their beauty, culture and talent to the rest of the world.
The search has kicked off, and the preliminary rounds are underway. The registration exercise is ongoing for the inaugural edition of the beauty contest.
Miss Supranational is regarded as the third most prestigious beauty contest in the world, after Miss World and Miss Universe, where more than 90 countries from across the world have been represented.
The pageant was born in 2009, with its first edition held in Płock, Poland. The duties of Miss Supranational are to work for charitable causes, as well as travelling the world promoting tourism, goodwill among all nations and a healthy image.
Alphonse Nsegiyumva, one of the organisers of the Miss Supranational Rwanda chapter, said the contest will give a platform and an opportunity for Rwandan aspiring beauty queens to compete at the international level.
"Before introducing the pageant to Rwanda, a few people would come forward to support our girls to participate in the competition, but it was hard because not everyone understood the concept. But the crown is now up for grabs at the national level, and we shall help the winner to implement her project, and to compete in other international pageants,” said Nsegiyumva.
Criteria for Miss Supranational
The contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 28, not married, or given birth. Must not be less than 1,70m height, and shouldn’t have any visible tattoos on the body.
According to the schedule, aspiring contestants have two weeks to apply. The application runs from July 17 through August 2, via the pageant’s website (www.misssupranational.rw).
Eligible contestants will be selected during the casting exercise from August 3-11, before the public votes the top 15 hopefuls, who will head to the boot camp on September 3.
On the eve of the finals, contestants will participate in the talent night, during which they will showcase their talents. They will also be asked questions by a panel of judges, to test they intellectual capacity, and how they are prepared for the international competition.
The top five contestants will work together to seek solutions in reference to this year’s theme: "How might we provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health service to girls and women in order to fight against pregnancy in Rwanda”, and they will work with relevant government institutions during the implementation of their project.
Last year, Clementine Uwase, proudly carried the Rwandan flag, though she did not bring the crown home, but represented the country on the world stage.
The winner will be announced in an exciting evening of glamour, fashion and entertainment at Century Park Hotel, Nyarutarama, on September 6. Contestants will be dressed in the finest Made-in-Rwanda outfits, and swimsuits before the distinguished judges. She will walk away with Rwf1 million cash prize, and she will be facilitated to represent the country at the Miss Supranational international in Poland, in November.
The first runner-up will receive Rwf500, 000, while the second runner-up will bag Rwf300, 000, and many other gifts and prizes from various sponsors.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com