Miss Uganda North America Vanessa Nansamba courtesy Photo
Beauty pageants are becoming a big deal in Uganda. Previously it used to be Miss Uganda at the top but a couple of pageants continue to come up even and even go international.
In United States, Miss Uganda North America is presumably the most astounding arrangement given its impact to the Ugandan community that a couple of crowned queens have been seen doing oodles of social cooperate responsibility back home in Uganda.
In Downtown Chicago at the Hyatt Regency hotel, the new Miss Uganda North America Vanessa Nansamba was crowned beating 12 other contestants. The winner becomes an ambassador for Ugandans in the diaspora and wins tourism, culture and charity tour of Uganda.
The event, dubbed a ‘Night of Awards, Fashion and Culture for Women Empowerment’, featured a red carpet, musical performances and four stages of competition including swimwear, talent, parade of culture and evening garments.
Participating fashion designers included Ras Kasozi (Kas Wear), Monica Kansiime (Ipigogo House of Fashion), Adrin Gelvin (Chelimo Styles), Edith Muyinda (Byasima Couture), Dianne Ikiriza (IkiDee Fashions) and Shakira Mutesi (Mavazi).
The founders of Miss Uganda North America Mrs Tibba Murungi Kabugu and Mr Julius Kabugu revealed that the next year’s event will be in the city of San Francisco as part of the 2020 UNAA Convention and Trade Expo.
According to the Miss Uganda North America Pageant Choreographer Ms Irene Nakitende, the contest is a leadership program that finds young Ugandan women from North America and mentors them and gives them a platform to champion their causes.
“This is through our conversations about us girls where we talk about women empowerment, leadership and culture; through our beauty pageant bootcamp, where these ladies spend a few days with mentors and former contestants and queens, getting them to work together and build strong networks with peers and mentors.” She explained
The event was graced by several notable personalities that included Mr Anthony Kituuka the executive Director Equity Bank Uganda , socialite Zarinah Tlale , Gladys Kyotungire the Founder End Child Sacrifice Campaign & WFP Spokesperson among others.
Julius Kabugu the co-founder of Miss Uganda North America noted that the arrangement is beyond just a pageant that the winners are given a boost to contribute to community causes back home in Uganda.
Here are the winners and award recipients.
2019 Rise Up Award for Women Empowerment Voices
Ruth Ndyabahika (Founder Grace Villa)
Jolly Kahunde (Founder Malayika Rescue Mission)
2019 Miss Uganda North America Winners
Winner Vanessa Nansamba
1st Runner Up – Cissy Efata
2nd Runner Up – Charlotte Chemutai
Miss Popularity – Rossette Kamwine
Miss Personality – Bonita Barungi
Miss Culture – Fauzah Nantambi
Miss Talent – Vanessa Nansamba
