Jeannette Uwimana has become the first contestant with speaking disability to ever contest for Miss Rwanda crown. She is among nine contestants who will represent Southern Province during the Miss Rwanda 2022 after getting a PASS during the auditions held at Credo Hotel, Huye District. Despite the disability, Uwimana said she was motivated by the confidence she had to take advantage of the occasion to inspire other young women with disabilities to be confident in whatever they do. “It’s a good platform to encourage my fellow young women to be confident and participate in beauty pageants despite the disability,” she told judges during the auditions. Uwimana cannot speak or hear but, with the help of her interpreter, respond the questions from the jury using sign language. She said her decision to participate in Miss Rwanda 2022 was influenced by her confidence as she makes case that it is time persons with disabilities benefit from opportunities available in every sector of development. “Many people living with disabilities sometimes lack confidence but because I had a chance to study in a school for persons with disabilities I was confident to participate in this beauty contest,” she explained. She was hailed by the jury for the confidence she showed when she decided to participate in Miss Rwanda 2022 despite her disability. The auditions attracted 51 contestants from a record 81 aspirants who registered to represent the Southern Province. The province so far records the highest number of aspirants during the 2022 edition. It was at 3pm when the first contestant appeared before the jury comprised of Miss Rwanda 2016 Jolly Mutesi, The New Times’ Managing Editor James Munyaneza and Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA)’s news anchor Evelyne Umurerwa. Each of the contestants had at least five minutes to present their projects in a language of their choice before the judges pronounced their position on whether they get a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. The projects varied from advocacy for young people with disabilities on access to reproductive health services and cultural tourism to mental health among other topics that tackle human interests. However, the jury and a contestant were made to wait on stage for about five minutes after a power cut in the middle of the auditions until the power returned for auditions to resume. From the jury’s experience, it looked like a big number of the projects presented during the auditions either lacked innovation or were not well-prepared before contestants presented them during the auditions. In the end, only nine managed to pass and got green light to represent the Southern Province from which previous winners Grace Bahati and Aurore Mutesi Kayibanda auditioned in 2009 and 2012 respectively. Those who passed include Isabelle Tanganyika, Ange Melisa Ituze, Michelle Ashimwe, Melissa Keza, Queen Kamikazi, Happiness Ikirezi, Jeannette Uwimana, Happiness Ikirezi and Sabine Hyguette Irakoze. The auditions resume Sunday, February 6, with the search for the next queen shifting to Silent Hill Hotel in an event that will decide contestants that will represent Eastern Province.
