Reigning Miss Rwanda Liliane Iradukunda recently returned from the 68th edition of the Miss World beauty pageant in Sanya, China.

Even though she did not win the crown, her project, which tackles malnutrition and stunting in children featured in the top 25 best projects at the global beauty pageant. Mexican beauty Vanessa Ponce de Leon took the crown.

This was Rwanda’s third representation at the global beauty competition. Iradukunda spoke to The New Times about her experience there. Excerpts:

What was the journey like in the general?

I enjoyed the journey and I had a very good experience in the competition. I had a chance to meet other beauty queens from different countries and I made new friends. It was really a good experience.         

Why do you think you didn’t win?

Miss World is a competition, and the crown had to go to only one contestant. We were 120 girls in the competition and so not winning the crown was not a big deal because it was a competition. I believe that everyone deserved to win the crown but the only thing is that it could only go to one.

What challenges did you face?

I can’t say there was a specific reason that caused my failure to win the crown. The jurors challenged everybody and some failed to go far in the competition. You do your best while in the competition, and the rest you leave it in the hands of the judges. I believe I did my best to go far, but things didn’t work out.

The challenges in the competition are normal. In my case, the votes must have been a serious issue. I cannot judge and say that Rwandans did not vote for me, but we needed votes to go on to the next stages of the competition.

What would you advise the next Miss Rwanda to do to go far in the Miss World competition?

She should pay attention to every stage of the competition. She must be prepared to face the challenges in the competition and do everything possible to overcome them.

Was there anything unusual you witnessed during the competition?

I don’t think there was anything during the Miss World pageant that was so different from what we experienced during the Miss Rwanda competition.  I can’t explain what makes the pageants different, because the difference is not that big. They are more or less the same. There is no need for the next Miss Rwanda to panic because what goes on during the Miss Rwanda competition is similar to what happens during the Miss World pageant. I hope she can do better.

What were your competitors like?

I don’t think those who went farther than me in the competition were far better. There was a very small difference amongst us all. But, because it is a competition, some go through to the next stage and others don’t.

Your project made it to the top 25. What was that like?      

I am so happy that the jurors appreciated my project. It is a project that I share with a 2017 Miss Rwanda contestant and I hope the pageant organisers [Rwanda Inspiration Backup] keep putting contestants together to produce worthwhile projects.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw