MISS RWANDA 2016 Mutesi Jolly has been appointed the vice president of Miss East Africa beauty pageant.

She made the announcement on Wednesday, June 9 on her Instagram page regarding the beauty pageant, before jetting off to Tanzania.

"I have travelled to Tanzania to organize Miss East Africa and more about the beauty competition will be aired through a press conference in Tanzania,” said the 25-year old.

She also tweeted: "Even though much has been done to equalize gender imbalances, Unfortunately the glass ceiling is still present and it is not easy for a woman 2 hit the level where they hve enough influence to hve any impact. Beauty pageants is a way for a young woman to do that #MIssEastAfrica2021.”

The contest she is going to prepare will see 17 countries competing for the crown, including Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Erithrea, Seychelles, Malawi as well as Somalia among others.

In 2009, Rwanda’s Cynthia Akazuba scooped the beauty crown while Neema Umwali was also crowned Miss East Africa in 2012.

However, talking to the local media, Mutesi said that preps for the beauty pageant are still in the pipeline, and the related details will be communicated after two weeks.

Mutesi was crowned Miss Rwanda at the age of 20, replacing her predecessor Doriane Kundwa.

During her reign, she was the first Rwandan to represent her country at Miss World beauty pageant competition, and paved a way for other Rwandans to become participants.