Rwanda wins Miss East Africa 2021

Shanitah Umunyana was crowned Miss East Africa 2021 at the end of the pageant, held on December 24, 2021. The 22-year old representative of Rwanda was vying for the crown alongside 16 other beauty queens from Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, Zambia, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Eritrea among others. All the contestants had spent at least a month in a bootcamp with intense training on public speaking and cultural demonstrations among other aspects.

“This is a victory for my country, Rwanda, and all my fellow colleagues who were with me in this pangeant, I have a project of sensitising women to create innovative products and that’s what I am going to embark on now,” she said after her crowning.

Miss Shanitah was the first runner up of Miss Rwanda 2018, crowned Miss Supranational Rwanda 2019 and represented the country at Miss Supranational 2019 held in Poland.

She also represented Rwanda at Miss University Africa in 2018 and scooped three awards for ‘’The President’s Choice Award”, “Best Video Presentation Award” and “Best Social Work Award”.

The 2021 Miss East Africa’s court includes Queen Mugesi (of Tanzania) and Oceanne Rose (Mauritius) as first and second runners-up, respectively.

Miss East Africa is an annual regional event that is back after a 9-year break since being held first in Tanzania in 1996 to 2012.  It aims to promote youth through philanthropic and active activism on gender equality. Diversity of culture, art and tourism, women empowerment through social responsibilities and entrepreneurship skill.