Grace Ingabire, the reigning Miss Rwanda 2021, on Friday, November 19, departed for Puerto Rico as she begins her quest for the 70th Miss World crown currently held by Jamaican beauty queen Toni-Ann Singh.

On the eve of her flight to Puerto Rico, the beauty queen was flagged off by State Minister at the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Edouard Bamporiki, who pledged to do all the Ministry can to support her push for the very first Miss World crown by a Rwandan beauty queen.

"She must keep in mind that she’s a beautiful young woman who was selected among beautiful young women. She is going to participate in a beauty contest and we promise to support her. With the population we have at our disposal, we pledge to mobilise them to support her by voting for her,” he said.

 "We wish to see her representing Rwanda well and tell the world Rwanda's true story. I told her that she must convince them that giving her the crown would be more profitable for them than her, "he added.

Ingabire was accompanied at Kigali International Airport by three of her predecessors including Meghan Nimwiza, the current Miss Rwanda Communications Director, Liliane Iradukuda and Elsa Iradukunda.

Prior to the global beauty contest, the 26-year-old told The New Times that she is prepared enough to challenge this against all odds.

"I am prepared enough, the most important of all being a winning mentality. Rwanda can actually make it, and will make it,” she said.

The winner of this year’s Miss World edition will be announced on December 16, and will take the crown from Jamaican Toni-Ann Singh, the reigning Miss World crown holder.

Puerto Rico is home to two Miss World winners including Wilnelia Merced Forsyth, the winner of the beauty contest in 1975 and Stephanie Del Valle who won the crown in 2016.