--MKM Promotions, a UK-based company, acquired the license from Miss World Ltd to run the franchise
By Sebidde Kiryowa When Sylvia Owori backed out of the Miss Uganda franchise, the future of the pageant seemed bleak.
However, things have recently looked up. MKM Promotions, a UK-based event management company, after acquiring the license from Miss World Ltd to run the franchise, has confirmed that Miss Uganda will be crowned this year.
She will represent the country in the Miss World contest, which will be held in Sanya located on the Hanian Island in The People’s Republic of China in December. Miss Uganda’s trip to China will be an all-expenses-paid trip. She will be given sh1m to spend on whatever her heart desires and a new wardrobe of evening and formal wear courtesy of MKM Promotions and Magnum Entertainment.
However, unlike the previous rigorous process that Owori employed to select a Miss Uganda over the past four years, this year’s selection will be a one-off event. Owori’s Miss Uganda Ltd held regional pageants in all parts of Uganda, selecting seven finalists from each region to make between 21-24 finalists that competed for the top crown.
The Miss Uganda 2005/6 selection will be held tomorrow at Bat Valley/ Little Flowers in Kampala at 7:00am. All contenders, who should be aged between 17 and 24, will be required to register between 7:00am - 9:30am. Judges will be in place to start selections at 10:00am. The panel will comprise respected personalities in the local beauty and fashion world.
Solaire Zalwango, the president MKM Promotions, says the pageant has been rushed in order to meet the deadline that Miss World extended specifically for Uganda to participate.
However, she denies the short notice will affect the quality of the person they will choose.
“The winner will still be required to be an outstanding individual whose purpose is to be an ambassador wherever she goes,” she says.
“To give Miss Uganda a better chance of winning Miss World, we will use their desired criteria in selecting — height minimum 5ft7 (170cm), slender (maximum dress size 10). A radiant smile is usually accompanied by a nice personality. The girl need not be a brain surgeon- just intelligent enough to hold up her opinion on any given subject.”
As far as required beauty standards are concerned, Zalwango says, “This is not a model search, because models need not be beautiful, or even intelligent. What we are really hoping for is to find someone truly impressive.”
She says although they do not have much time, they will ensure that the winner undergoes training and grooming for a month before she leaves for Sanya on November10.
Zalwango says representing Uganda in the Miss World pageant will be the winner’s first assignment. Miss World winners have been known to tour the world and meet some of the most influential people in the world.
“Winning Miss World literally changes their lives as doors to opportunity open effortlessly,” she says.
Zalwango says Miss Uganda will have a lot more to gain than lose even if she does not win the Miss World crown.
“She will have gained one month of first class training in personal development, which can only be compared to that given at the best Universities. She will learn how to present herself gracefully, communicate effectively and become an influential individual. The next time she attends a job interview, these three things could be stark difference between she and another of similar or even better intellectual background,” she says.
Zalwango says Miss Uganda’s stay in China, “will be one fabulous month of making new friends, touring, and attending fundraisers.”
“The Miss World Contest will be the grand finale of this very unusual experience, which you have to admit only a handful of girls in the world will ever have the opportunity to go through,” she says.
So, if you are beautiful and you are determined to be the best before the selection panel in all aspects, rush on down to Little Flowers.
You could be the next Barbara Kimbugwe or better still, Miss World.
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