Five Rwandan girls have been selected among the top 10 contestants, who will represent East Africa at the second edition of Miss Career Africa 2020 competition.
The 10 East African finalists were announced on Thursday, following a month-long pre-selection online voting, which took place from September 14- October 14.
Representing Rwanda in the annual competition are; Genevieve Iranyuze Atosha, who had the highest votes (156 789), followed by Clémence Tuyishimire with (134 252 votes), Mignone Gisele Irankunda (113 210 votes), Betty Mutesi (81 264 votes) and Naome Mugisha (85 783 votes).
They will be joined by Delicia Izere and Nice Cailie Ineza (both from Burundi), Fauster Muttani (Tanzania), Seraphine Okeyo (Kenya) and Nyabonyo Anna Charity (Uganda).
Rwanda has the highest representation in the contest with five aspirants compared to the other East African countries. Burundi has two representatives, while Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have one contestant.
The top 10 East African qualifiers will face off in the finals with 28 more contestants selected from each of the other African regions, including four from North Africa, 10 from the West Africa, and 10 who will represent Central Africa.
Speaking about the contest, organisers told The New Times that each of the contestants will submit their projects to the Miss Career Africa Office in Kigali, where they will be helped to prepare bankable business plans.
Foreign contestants will fly from their respective countries to Kigali for a five-day boot camp slated for November 23-27 at Seed of Peace Centre in Muhazi Lakeside, Kayonza District.
While in the boot camp, the contestants will undergo a mentorship programme on how best they can turn their projects into bankable businesses.
The top 15 projects will be selected and progress to the grand finale slated for November 27.
The winner will succeed Miss Career Africa 2019 Yvette Mukamwiza, and walk away with a whopping Rwf4.7m ($5,000).
Other categories to be crowned are; Miss Speaker, Miss Technology, Miss Hospitality, Miss Science, Miss Talent and Miss Art.
Contestants are between 18 and 24.
The Miss Career Africa programme empowers young women professionals and entrepreneurs and aspiring students through the provision of university scholarships, career guidance, entrepreneurship incubation development, leadership training, and networking.
The contest seeks to empower at least 450,000 women from across the continent. Selection takes place in all parts of the continent, each sending 10 finalists to the boot camp.