The countrywide auditions for Miss Rwanda 2016 concluded at Sports View Hotel, Remera, on Saturday as nine girls from the City of Kigali were awarded passes to go on to the next stage.
The countrywide auditions for Miss Rwanda 2016 concluded at Sports View Hotel, Remera, on Saturday as nine girls from the City of Kigali were awarded passes to go on to the next stage.
Sixteen girls had been pre-selected from the auditions in the country’s four provinces (Northern, Western, Southern, Eastern) which left nine slots to compete for in order to bring the number of contestants to 25 which is required for the next stage.
Fourteen of the 16 girls who showed up for the auditions in Kigali full-filled the requirements and they included a good number who had contested in previous editions like Vanessa Mpogazi, who was contesting for the third time.
Experience seemed to give some candidates an edge over the others.
When all the interviews and project presentations and points tallying was done with, Vannessa Mpogazi, Ange Kaligirwa, Eduige Mutesi, Jeanne Mutoni, Fiona Doreen Ashimwe , Peace Kwizera Ndaruhutse, Olive Umunezero, Sandrine Ikirezi and Naima Rahamatali were named as Kigali’s flagbearers.
They were announced by Carine Rusaro Utamuliza, one of the judges for the pageant.
Rusaro revealed that all the nine contestants had scored more than 70 per cent. For an excited Jeanne Mutoni, a pass was always within her grasp since she had the faith and hope. "Everything will work out”.
"I have the courage, I have the passion, and that's all that it takes”, she said.
One of the contestants, Rwamitari, has lived in Canada most of her life and came back to the country a week before the auditions but was able to convince the judges despite knowing limited Kinyarwanda, which is a requirement.
"It is positive to have a candidate like her because it shows the society that the concept of Miss Rwanda isn't only for those based in Rwanda, but people who are living in the diaspora can also come and compete,” said judge Mike Karangwa
Karangwa, who alongside colleagues Rusaro and Jean de Chantal Mugabushaka traversed all the provinces in the auditions, said it was an improved competition this year.
"In this year we have candidates with more ambitious and expectations, they have good projects. Last year we were not asking about projects but this year we improved by asking contestants that if they were crowned what would they do, and we got good proposals. This year’s candidates are more open, they have good expression and content, the competition is improving.
"People have begun to understand the concept of Miss Rwanda; the candidates are starting to understand that this competition isn't about beauty but also about content, expression and what you have for society,” he added.
Next Saturday the 25 contestants are expected to take part in community work, Umuganda, according to organisers.
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