Those of you who were already concerned that we might not have Miss Rwanda contest this year, relax. The lead organisers, the Ministry of Sports and Culture, have said the beauty pageant is just around this corner.
Those of you who were already concerned that we might not have Miss Rwanda contest this year, relax.
The lead organisers, the Ministry of Sports and Culture, have said the beauty pageant is just around this corner.
Speaking to The New Times, Lauren Makuza, director of culture promotion at the ministry, said they are in the final stages of preparations.
He said they are about to finalise discussions with sponsors and that the public will soon be informed when the contest will kick off.
"Even right now, we have just had discussions with our potential sponsors; just wait for the big announcement,” he told this reporter on phone.
Miss Rwanda beauty contest returned in 2009, 17 years after it had ceased to take place. But the pageant contest did not take place in 2010 and 2011. It returned last year.
In 2012, contestants drew from each region across the country with the criteria for participation set in accordance with Miss World standards.
The criteria included being a Rwandan citizen of 18-25 years, at least 1.7 metres tall, being morally upright and having good public speaking skills.
Reigning Miss Rwanda is Aurore Mutesi Kayibanda, 21, who won the coveted title in September, last year after beating 14 other contestants in a grand finale at the Gikondo Expo Grounds. She replaced the 2009 winner, Grace Bahati.
Just like last year, the winner of this year’s edition is expected to walk away with stimulus packages and prizes and a chance to represent Rwanda in the Miss World beauty pageant.