A total of nine contestants passed the Musanze auditions and grabbed a green light to represent the Northern Province at Miss Rwanda 2022 as the search for Grace Ingabire’s successor begins.

The opening auditions of the pageant, which kicked off at La Palme Hotel in Musanze town, attracted 43 aspirants from a possible 51 who registered vying for a chance to represent Northern Province at the 2022 beauty contest which is in its 11th edition.

The auditions are being co-hosted by Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA)’s presenters Sam Kalisa and Martina Abera. It’s the latter’s third time in a row hosting the beauty contest via the national broadcaster which has been and remains the official broadcasting partner.

Aspirants arrived at the hotel earlier before the auditions show time as they were supposed to first presente proof of covid-19 vaccination and  negative test results, as part of the preventive measures lined up to avoid the spread of the pandemic, before the auditions kicked off a few minutes to 2pm.

In a tightly-contested auditions session, every contestant had to pass before the media and an experienced jury made up of Miss Rwanda 2016 Jolly Mutesi and media personalities James Munyaneza and Evelyne Umurerwa, as they were, in their favorite language, doing their best to impress the judges.

Some of freshest projects that shaped the Musanze auditions include Mignonne Uwase’s quest to encourage Rwandans, especially youth, to do sports to not only keep themselves fit and healthy but to also make it a profession and a source of a living.

Uwase’s idea has some similarities with Adelaide Ishimwe Muhayimpundu who targets to use Miss Rwanda platform to contribute to the promotion of football among women through encouraging Rwandan women to pursue the game as a profession just like men do.

Both projects got the nod from the judges, with the contestants now targeting not only the crown for the overall winner of Miss Rwanda 2022 and, but also special and new prize dedicated to recognise contestants with the best Sport talent.

The best part of the Musanze editions was the confidence shown by the contestant and elegance while the worst aspect that judges suggested contestants to improve was to take their time on the projects to ensure that they are worth presenting and ready to get everyone excited and interested.

After four hours of auditioning, only nine contestants passed the auditions and progressed to the next stages. They include Adelaide Ishimwe Muhayimpundu, Leslie Manzi Mutavu, Vanessa Nshuti, Ariane Bagiriteto, Mignonne Uwase, Dianah Umutoniwase, Raissa Cyiza, Emmanuella Kaberuka and Ghislaine Mugisha Igiraneza.

The auditions resume Sunday as the search for the next beauty queen shifts  to Rubavu to select Western Province representatives in an exercise scheduled to be held at Gorilla Hotel in Rubavu Town.