Hadidja Uwimana, 21, made it to the top 10 finalists before being overcome in the Miss Africa USA competition this past weekend. Fifi Souma, Miss Republic of Guinea Conakry, won the top title.

The Navarro College sophomore competed in Maryland for the title in a beauty contest specifically for immigrants from Africa. Most competitors are college students.

Uwimana’s parents were killed in the in 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and she moved to the U.S. with her aunt after years of living alone and then ending up in an orphanage.

Even though she didn’t win first, Uwimana still had a wonderful time, she said Monday.

"It was a fun experience,” she said. "It was scary. I had to figure out how to get to a hotel, to travel. I learned something.”

Uwimana will compete this weekend in the Miss Africa USA beauty pageant in Washington D.C. The native of Rwanda, Uwimana is currently a student at Navarro College.
Corsicana Daily Sun.

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