Staff
BY EDWIN WAISWA
Miss Uganda beauty pageant start dates have been launched today at Zone 7 in Mbuya as they return after three years of absence due to the COVID 19 pandemic which affected the nation.
The 2023 Miss Uganda edition under the theme “Beauty Beyond Looks”, is to start with regional selections with the addition of West Nile who will host the auditions of West Nile region.
Brenda Nanyonjo the chief organiser of Miss Uganda addressed the media on what aspects they need from the contestants as they target young girls aged between 18 to 25 years with the introduction of a registration fee of 20,000 Uganda shillings.
“For the first time, we have also introduced a registration fee of Shs 20,000 which every contestant will pay when they come to audition. The girls who want to contest, the applicant must be between 18 and 25 years, a Ugandan in possession of a national identity card or passport, with minimum education level of senior six. She should not be married or engaged to be married, not a divorcee and should not have any visible tattoos.” Said Brenda Nanyonjo.
The search for the next beauty queen will start in Arua from January 9th to 11th and on to Gulu from January 12th to 14th, Fort Portal from January 16th to 18th, Masaka from January 19th to 21st, Jinja from January 26th to 28th and then to Kampala for the final pre – selection from February 1st to 2nd.
The grand finale will be held on March 17, 2023.
Kevin Zziwa, the CEO Kezzi Entertainment Ltd who are the license owners of Miss Uganda said they have partnered with StarTimes to have the Miss Uganda competitions showcased as a reality TV show.
The show will include a residential boot camp, beauty and fashion contests, the beach beauty and sports challenge and the adventure and talent contests. It will also have periodic evictions, confession cameras, audience interactivity, all before the crowning ceremony.
“We have been asked so many times what we do and teach these girls while in boot camp … we are going to be showing the behind-the-scenes of the Miss Uganda competition and show the viewers what the girls go through [for one to be] crowned Miss Uganda,” Zziwa said.
Journey to the Crown starts showing in January on StarTimes’ Makula Channel from 8 pm, from Friday to Sunday. We last had a Miss Uganda in July 2019, where Oliver Nakakande was crowned winner. However, in April 2021, Elizabeth Bagaya, who was Nakakande’s first runner-up was named Miss Uganda, because Nakakande had gone abroad to pursue her studies.
