Saturday’s pre-selection exercise saw 70 contestants who passed provincial auditions reduced to 20 that will make it to the boot camp for the next two-weeks. The tightly-contested pre-selection event, held at Gikondo Expo Grounds, marked a decisive stage during which a five-judge panel, led by Jean Pierre Higiro, had to make tough decisions on who progresses and who stays after two hours of project presentations. Higiro shared the seat on the panel with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) presenter Egidie Bibio Ingabire, former Miss Rwanda contestant and now CNBC Africa news anchor Fiona Muthoni Ntarindwa, researcher and historian Judge Marcel Ntazinda as well RBA’s sign language interpreter Fidele The completely changed panel replaced The New Times’ Managing Editor James Munyaneza, Miss Rwanda 2016 Jolly Mutesi and RBA’s news anchor Evelyne Umurerwa who formed a three-judge panel that selected the 70 contestants during provincial auditions. The 2021 edition of the contest was held in a bubble where the public could only follow all the stages of the event on their screens and online following the persistent ban on entertainment events. And, unlike provincial auditions which were held behind closed doors as a means to contain the spread of the pandemic, the public was welcomed back to witness the beauty contest’s pre-selection on condition that they present covid-19 negative results and proof of vaccination against the pandemic. The girls were at the venue on the eve of the preselection as they gathered to do final rehearsals on catwalks after which they were briefed on the pre-selection agenda. The first contestant appeared before the jury a few minutes past 7:30 pm after all the girls headlined glamorous catwalks before their supporters who were, in groups, holding placards and shirts with photos of the contestants they were supporting. Each one of them had one minute to present their projects to the jury, and of course the audience that was in attendance, and only 18 with smartest projects were able to progress to the boot camp, joined by two contestants with the highest number of votes during the voting exercise. The 20 contestants who made it to the boot camp include Vanessa Uwimana, Ruth Bahari, Marlene Uwimana, Kevine Musoni Ikirezi, Sabine Isingizwe Mutabazi, Leila Franca Kalila, Marie Magnificat Uwikuzo, Darina Kayumba and Jeannette Uwimana, the lone contestant with disability remaining in the beauty contest after her counterpart Fredda Umutoiwase was dropped from the pre-selection. Others include Arlette Amanda Bahenda Umurerwa, Marie Merci Kazeneza, Emma Pascaline Umuhoza, Maolithia Keza, Amanda Saro, Melissa Keza, Lynda Nkusi, Jessica Muringa and Queen Mugabekazi Ndahiro as well as Kelia Ruzindana and Divine Muheto Nshuti, who both booked an automatic ticket to the boot camp after garnering the highest votes from the voting process. The finalists will travel to La Palisse Hotel, Nyamata on Monday, February 28, where they will spend two weeks in the boot camp. The winner of Miss Rwanda 2022 will be announced during the grand finale slated for March 19, and will replace current crown holder Grace Ingabire.
