The Miss Rwanda 2022 finalists on Monday, February 28, began a three-week boot camp which is the final stage that will decide Grace Ingabire’s successor.

Saturday night’s pre-selection exercise saw 70 contestants who passed provincial auditions reduced to 20 while the remaining 50 were sent back home to prepare for next year’s edition.

Accompanied by their parents/guardians, the women gathered at Intare Conference Arena for a briefing on the purpose and objectives of the boot camp before they proceeded to the boot camp, aboard Volcano bus, at La Palisse Hotel, Nyamata.

A three-week boot camp is the final stage that will decide Grace Ingabire’s successor.

Each of the finalists was dressed in uniform dresses designed by local fashion house Ian Collections.

During the briefing, Meghan Nimwiza, the Communications Director of Rwanda Inspiration Backup, congratulated all contestants who took part in Miss Rwanda 2022 and, in particular, the finalists who made the difference to go through the boot camp. 

"Everyone who made it to the pre-selection deserves credit because they did the best they could do. The finalists will go through different challenges and winning the crown won't depend on anyone or anything else but yourself because you have the potential to win it,” Nimwiza said.

Contestants follow during a brief meeting before heading to Bugesera

"There is more to Miss Rwanda than the crown itself. Our part is to make sure the boot camp happens in a comfortable environment and we hope contestants can use the occasion to learn from each other, socialize and embrace togetherness,” she added.  

During the boot camp, the women will be trained with different skills varying from culture aspect, project preparation to public speaking among others. They will also go for tours, visits to touristic places.

They will also compete through different challenges in talent, sports and head to head challenges among others.

The challenges will determine nine finalists who will go through to the grand finale, and one contestant with the highest number of votes.

The 20 women going to the boot camp

The 20 contestants who made it to the boot camp include Kelia Ruzindana and Divine Muheto Nshuti, who both booked an automatic ticket to the boot camp after garnering the highest votes from the voting process.

They will be joined by Vanessa Uwimana, Ruth Bahari, Marlene Uwimana, Kevine Musoni Ikirezi, Sabine Isingizwe Mutabazi, Leila Franca Kalila, Marie Magnificat Uwikuzo and Darina Kayumba.

Others include Arlette Amanda Bahenda Umurerwa, Marie Merci Kazeneza, Emma Pascaline Umuhoza, Maolithia Keza, Amanda Saro, Melissa Keza, Lynda Nkusi, Jessica Muringa and Queen Mugabekazi Ndahiro as well as Jeannette Uwimana , the lone contestant with disability left in the beauty contest after her counterpart Fredda Umutoiwase was dropped from the pre-selection.

As earlier noted, the pageant organisers promised to make all arrangements that Uwimana will need at the boot camp for her to feel included and welcomed in the team of women contesting for the crown.

Finalists at Intare Conference Arena boarding a bus

Uwimana traveled to the boot camp with her own interpreter who will be helping her to communicate with the rest of the contestants and other members involved in the beauty contest while at the boot camp until the grand finale. 

The winner of Miss Rwanda 2022 will be announced during the grand finale slated for March 19 at Intare Conference Arena.

The Miss Rwanda 2022 finalists began a three-week boot camp on Monday, February 28,