Miss Rwanda 2020’s first runner-up, Phionah Umwiza has confirmed that she will represent Rwanda in Miss University Africa 2021 beauty pageant in Nigeria. The announcement coincides with the release of her single, “Fight Coronavirus”, on the pageant’s Instagram Page, in which she confirms the development. She submitted the song under the talent category requirements of the pageant. The contest is an annual international beauty pageant organised by Visions, Innovations and Concepts. Umwiza vies with other candidates from Burundi, Ethiopia, Gabon, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo among others. The contest is expected to commence in February but the dates are uncertain due to the unpredictability of the Covid-19 pandemic. As per the rules, contestants must be active university students with the single marital status and aged between 18 and 26. In previous contests, the winners took home $50,000, a brand new car and the title to become the ambassador of students in the African Union. Rwanda has been represented in the previous contests, with Linda Umutoniwase vying for the crown in 2017 whereas Shanitah Umunyana was selected in 2018. In 2019, Odile Uwase Sangwa was short-listed but the contest was cancelled later on. The pageant, created in 2010 by businessman Taylor Nazzal, is one of the most influential beauty pageants in Africa. It is aimed at celebrating beauty with brains, discourage indecent dressing amongst African students/youths, discover the innate potentials of African students, celebrate African culture/tourism, and the African woman.
