HUYE - Sandra Uwimbabazi, 21, was Friday crowned this year’s Miss Rwanda National University (UNR). The first year faculty of law student defeated seven other contestants to emerge winner of the university beauty pageant. Uwimbabazi walked away with Frw300,000, a one night stay at Kigali’s Serena Hotel, courtesy of Rwanda Initiative Promotion, a brand new Nokia phone with internet access and Frw100,000 of airtime. Each contestant was asked two questions. Uwimbabazi was first asked to name the disease common in models that is characterised by severe weight loss and then what FESPAD stands for. Uwimbabazi knew the disease was Anorexia but did not know the ‘Festival Pan Africain de la Dance’ (FESPAD).

The head of the jury, Daddy de Max, said the search for Miss Campus 2008 was not easy. Overall the contestants performed poorly; the winner scored a modest 45 percent. Angèle Usanase Gasana, 22, a first year statistics student, and Saudah Muganga, 21, a faculty of agriculture first year, came second and third respectively.

The guest of honour at ceremony, Minister of Culture and Sports, Joseph Habineza, congratulated the winners, saying that the exercise was an appreciation of the beauty of Rwandan women.

Uwimbabazi was crowned Miss Campus 2008 by the outgoing beauty queen Karine Utamuriza.

"I feel overwhelmed because I never expected to be the best,” said the new Miss NUR.

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