19 -year-old Divine Nshuti Muheto has been crowned Miss Rwanda 2022 at a glamorous grand finale held Saturday, March 19, at Intare Conference Arena, Rusororo.
The beauty queen, who is a high school graduate, won the crown overcoming stiff competition from Maolithia Keza and Darina Kayumba who emerged first and second runners-up respectively.
Representing Western Province from auditions, Muheto, who also won the Miss Popularity title, becomes the first non-Kigali contestant to win the crown since Liliane Iradukunda in 2018.
Muheto replaces Grace Ingabire to the crown.
Upon winning the crown, she said, "I feel happy, blessed ad grateful. And credit goes to everyone who supported me throughout my journey”
On top of the crown, Miss Rwanda 2022 walked away with a brand new car - Hyundai Venue offered by Hyundai Rwanda and will be receiving a monthly facilitation of Rwf800,000 during her reign from Miss Rwanda organization among many other additional pries from organisers’ partners.
She will also get financial support from Africa Improved Foods (AIF) Rwanda for her ‘beauty with a purpose’ project.
Meanwhile first runner-up Keza will receive Rwf2,400,000 from Bella Flowers, a 6-month free weekend getaway at La Palisse Hotel Nyamata and a full year dental care service from Diamond Smile Dental Clinic.
The second runner-up, on the other hand, will receive the same amount of money from Volcano Ltd as their Brand Ambassador, a three-month weekend getaway at La Palisse Hotel Nyamata and a one-year dental care service from Diamond Smile Dental Clinic.
Another remarkable winner is Jeannette Uwimana, who became the first person with disability to contest for Miss Rwanda since its inception in 1993, whose project the ‘Most Innovative Project’.
Her project, which is about pig farming, will be fully funded by Bank of Kigali while she also becomes the bank’s brand ambassador for the next 12 months.
Other Prize winners:
Ruth Bahali was awarded Rwf 1 800 000 by HDI Rwanda for showing much interest in reproductive health issues
Miss Photogenic: Queen Ndahiro Mugabekazi
Talent Winner: Amanda Saro
Sports winner: Marlene Uwimana
The Miss Popularity: Divine Nshuti Muheto
Miss Heritage: Kellia Ruzindana
Most Innovative Project: Jeannette Uwimana
The winners during the grand finale were decided by a five-member panel of judges comprising The New Times’ James Munyaneza, Miss Rwanda 2016 Jolly Mutesi, Malick Shaffy Lizinde, radio presenter Anne Marie Niwemwiza, Rwanda Broadcasting Agency sign language interpreter Fidele Irizabimbuto and Matthew Mensah.
The first runner-up will receive Rwf2,400,000 from Bella Flowers, a six-month free weekend getaway at La Palisse Hotel Nyamata and a full year dental care service from Diamond Smile Dental Clinic while the second runner-up will receive the same amount of money from Volcano Ltd as their Brand Ambassador, a three-month weekend getaway at La Palisse Hotel Nyamata and a one-year dental care service from Diamond Smile Dental Clinic.
The contestant with the Most Innovative Project will receive a monthly salary of Rwf500,000 from Bank of Kigali as their Brand Ambassador. The bank will also provide financial support towards her project and all necessary training through the BK Urumuri program with Inkomoko
The winner of Miss Heritage will receive Rwf5,000,000 as cash prize from Bralirwa through their brand Primus as well as support towards her cultural awareness campaigns.
The Miss Popularity, Miss Photogenic and Talent Winner will each receive a cash prize of Rwf2, 400, 000 from Forzza Gaming, Diamond Smile Dental Clinic and IGIHE respectively while the Sports winner, a prize which goes to an outstanding contestant in Sports, will walk away with Rwf2, 400, 000 as cash prize courtesy of Smart Design.
The Miss Rwanda 2022 top 10 finalists will be given scholarships of their choice by the University of Kigali based on their level of education and progress.
Each contestant will get a share of 20% of the money obtained from each contestant's votes. The money will assist in their project implementation.
Meanwhile, Forzza Gaming will finance a charitable activity that all Miss Rwanda 2022 finalists will agree to work on together.