The Miss Uganda crown has a new owner: Leah Kagasa was declared the winner by a four-person panel of judges over the weekend, beating out 20 other contestants. “My life will never be the same,” the 21-year-old marketing student at Makerere University Business School told the Observer. The beauty queen, who hails from Tooro, completed her elementary education at St. Helen’s Primary School and Bweranyangi Girls School before going on to Maryhill High School for her A levels.
The pageant was held at the Kampala Serena Hotel and was sponsored by the Miss Uganda Foundation in partnership with a host of corporate sponsors including Huawei, Pemba Sport Africa, and the National Agricultural Research Organisation. In addition to her crown, Kagasa also walked away with a brand-new Huawei P9 smartphone.
Making the Cut
In order to compete for the Miss Uganda crown, contestants can’t be married or have kids, and they must be between the ages of 18 and 24. Contestants also can’t have tattoos or similar body modifications, and they must be at least 5 feet 5 inches tall with an A-level minimum qualification. In addition, organizers say a contestant is automatically disqualified if an indecent video or audio recording of themselves leaks to the public.
Miss World
Kagasa will replace outgoing Miss Uganda, Zahara Nakiyaga, and represent the country at the upcoming Miss World grand finale, which will be held on December 17th in Washington, D.C.
“Leah has everything needed at Miss World; she has the height, body, fitness and, most of all, the brains,” noted Sylvia Namutebi, a former contestant who was part of the judging panel.
Miss Uganda CEO Brenda Nanyonjo added, “We are starting training for Miss World next week and this time we want to make the finalists’ list. Our girl can compete at any level.”
