Ugandan Wins Miss East Africa UK Crown

Anthony Nyongesa
Nairobi

Twenty-one-year-old Maureen Nyakaira of Uganda has been crowned Miss East Africa UK 2007.

Nyakaira had faced stiff competition from representatives from Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, and takes over the crown from Brenda Akot who won it last year when the pageant was inaugurated.

A medical physics student at Cardiff University, Wales, she said it was a pleasant surprise to be declared the winner. "I will remember this night for the rest of my life; at first I was shocked and asked myself: 'Is it me really? But then that was my number they called,'" she said.

The crowd cheered as the beauty claimed the prestigious title. Head judge Rachel Ritfeld described her as humble, graceful and very natural, saying that she would go along way in raising East Africans' awareness about under-privileged children.

The much anticipated pageantry took place at the prestigious Conway Hall, London, a fortnight ago.

Speaking by phone from UK, Miss East Africa competition chief executive Pauline Long said the event was attended by guests from not only the East African region, but also other parts of Africa and Europe.

Special guests

The special guests of the evening were former child soldier Emmanuel Jal and Cindy of the famous Ugandan girls-only band Blue3. The highlight was a performance by Jal who electrified the crowd with his unique gospel rap.

Jal grew up in Kenya after being smuggled out of war-torn motherland- Sudan. "I'm honoured to be here to support a good cause, and I commend Pauline for standing up for vulnerable children orphaned by HIV/Aids and genocide in countries like Rwanda," said the musician when he delivered in his speech.

Pauline, a Kenyan, established the pageant to highlight issues affecting the African child in the eastern African region, while Jal is the founder of GUA Africa - a charity organisation that works with individuals, families and communities to enable them to overcome the effects of war.

Jal, in a telephone interview, said he looked forward to working with the new beauty queen for the betterment of the African child's life.

Nyakaira, officially the second title winner, is expected to emulate her predecessor's accomplishments in charity work.

Source: All Africa