AS THE MISS RWANDA COMPETITION continues to grow, the benefits of the crown winner and participating contestants at large continue to improve as well. This year’s edition, which was launched in December last year, will mark a number of positive changes in the beauty contest as the pageant looks to increase prizes for current crowns while also extending prizes to a bigger number of contestants to ensure more young women benefit from the pageant. Two new prizes were, for instance, introduced as the partners continue to express their interest in joining the Miss Rwanda organisation’s move to empower young women through the pageant. Organisers have now, beginning with the 2022 edition, introduced a ‘long-awaited’ prize for Miss Heritage and another for a contestant who makes a difference in sports. On the other hand, organisers also looked at increasing the prizes given to existing crowns where, effective this year, winners for Miss Popularity, Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic and Talent Winner will see their cash prizes increased from Rwf1, 800, 000 to Rwf2, 400, 000. Miss Rwanda 2022 overall winner On top of the crown, the overall winner of Miss Rwanda 2022 will walk 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 organisation. She will also get financial support from Africa Improved Foods (AIF) Rwanda for her ‘beauty with a purpose’ project. Among other benefits, Miss Rwanda 2022 will get a full year fuel service from Merez Petroleum, full internet service from KOPA Telecom for a period of one year, a one-year free of charge hair style service from Keza Salon, full year Makeup service from Celine d’Or, full year weekend getaway at La Palisse Nyamata with her family, free office space from Makuza Peace Plaza, full year fashion service from Ian Collection and a full year dental care service by Diamond Smile Dental Clinic. First and second runners-up The first runner-up 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. Meanwhile, 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 Winner of Most Innovative Project 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 Miss Heritage The winner of Miss Heritage in Miss Rwanda 2022 will receive Rwf5,000,000 as cash prize from Bralirwa through their brand Primus as well as support towards her cultural awareness campaigns. Other prizes The Miss Popularity, Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic and Talent Winner will each receive a cash prize of Rwf2, 400, 000 from Forzza Gaming, Merez Petroleum, 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 top 10 finalists 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 contestants 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, while the contestant who will show much interest in reproductive health issues will be awarded by HDI Rwanda. Registration is now underway via missrwanda.rw and the first auditions will take place in Northern and Western provinces on January 29 and 30 respectively. The editions will continue to the South and East on February 5 and 6 respectively before Kigali city hosts them on February 12. Pre-selection of the beauty queens is slated for February 26, and will move to the boot camp the next day, whereas the finale will take place on March 19, 2022.
