The InterContinental Miami, located on Miami's Biscayne Bay, was the scene for the Miss Uganda North America 2017 Beauty Pageant. Set against the backdrop of beautiful ocean waves, the event transpired on September 1st, 2017 in the famous Bayfront Ballroom with the Miami weather playing nicely to deliver a warm, classy atmosphere.

Miss Uganda North America is a leadership program designed to help young women in North America to attain leadership skills through education. The annual beauty pageant ushers in each year's class and selects a leader among them. This year's winner's prize was a cultural, tourism and charity tour of Uganda and a $1,000 scholarship award towards education expenses. This edition was sponsored by Equity Bank Uganda Ltd, Kibira Safaris Tours and Travel (Platinum Sponsors), Waves Affordable Housing (Silver Sponsors), Crystal Lodges and Safaris Uganda, and Mahogany Springs Luxury Lodge Uganda (Tour Hotels).

At an event hosted by Ankara Miami's Adoch Acemah and Ugandan comedian Alex Muhangi, Ugandan songstress Winnie Nwagi entertained a room packed to capacity with her latest jams including Show Me and Olaba Otya, and classics like Magic. The evening's designers included Ugandan based designer Olivia Nanfuka (NFKA Clothing), Tibba Murungi Kabugu (Inzozi Fashion House), and Boston-based Olivia Nalongo Musisi (Afrisent).

Yvonne Kushemererwa, the only contestant from Canada, shocked everyone by beating all odds to take the crown, fending off fierce competition from Denver's Ratibah Ismail El-Gazzar and surprise 1st runner up Aida Doris Kinkufi from Wisconsin. Congratulations to Yvonne and wishing her a fruitful reign! Here are some highlights. Special thanks to Denis Apira (Dallas) and PixExplosionsByJojo (Miami) for the pictures. Enjoy!

• First Runner Up Aida Doris Kinkufi First Runner Up Aida Doris Kinkufi
• Second Runner Up Ratibah Ismail El-Gazzar Second Runner Up Ratibah Ismail El-Gazzar
• Ratibah El-Gazzar in African Print by Afrisent Ratibah El-Gazzar in African Print by Afrisent
• Porshia Nakalanda in African Print by Afrisent Porshia Nakalanda in African Print by Afrisent
• Juliet Twalla in Uganda Flag Dress by Afrisent Juliet Twalla in Uganda Flag Dress by Afrisent
• Yvonne Kushemererwa in African Print by Afrisent Yvonne Kushemererwa in African Print by Afrisent
• L-R Aida, Ratibah, Juliet, Porshia, Priscilla, Tekla, Phionah, Doreen, Tezira, and Leticia - Class of 2017 L-R Aida, Ratibah, Juliet, Porshia, Priscilla, Tekla, Phionah, Doreen, Tezira, and Leticia - Class of 2017
• L-R Aida, Tezira, Ratibah, Juliet, Priscilla, Tekla, Phionah, Doreen, Porshia, and Leticia - Class of 2017 L-R Aida, Tezira, Ratibah, Juliet, Priscilla, Tekla, Phionah, Doreen, Porshia, and Leticia - Class of 2017
• L-R Juliet and Aida - Class of 2017 L-R Juliet and Aida - Class of 2017
• Porshia Nakalanda (California) in Evening Garment by NFKA Porshia Nakalanda (California) in Evening Garment by NFKA
• Regina Collection (Evening Garments) by NFKA Regina Collection (Evening Garments) by NFKA
• Regina Collection (Evening Garments) by NFKA Regina Collection (Evening Garments) by NFKA
• Yvonne Kushemererwa in Evening Garment by NFKA Yvonne Kushemererwa in Evening Garment by NFKA
• Evening Hosts Alex Muhangi and Adoch Acemah Evening Hosts Alex Muhangi and Adoch Acemah
• Winnie Nwagi performs to the intro dance. Outfits by Tibba Murungi Kabugu (Inzozi Fashion House) Winnie Nwagi performs to the intro dance. Outfits by Tibba Murungi Kabugu (Inzozi Fashion House)
• Winnie Nwagi performs to the intro dance. Outfits by Tibba Murungi Kabugu (Inzozi Fashion House) Winnie Nwagi performs to the intro dance. Outfits by Tibba Murungi Kabugu (Inzozi Fashion House)
• Intro dance. Outfits by Tibba Murungi Kabugu (Inzozi Fashion House) Intro dance. Outfits by Tibba Murungi Kabugu (Inzozi Fashion House)
• Former Miss Uganda North America Yvette Kibwika (R) crowning 2017 Miss Personality Doreen Kazinduka (L) (New York) Former Miss Uganda North America Yvette Kibwika (R) crowning 2017 Miss Personality Doreen Kazinduka (L) (New York)
• Anthony Kituuka (R), Equity Bank Uganda Executive Director, Crowns Miss Talent Yvonne Kushemererwa (L) (Vancouver, Canada) Anthony Kituuka (R), Equity Bank Uganda Executive Director, Crowns Miss Talent Yvonne Kushemererwa (L) (Vancouver, Canada)
• Miss Uganda Rising Woman Iryn Nakitende at the Red Carpet Miss Uganda Rising Woman Iryn Nakitende at the Red Carpet
• Guests at the Red Carpet Guests at the Red Carpet
• Guests at the Red Carpet Guests at the Red Carpet
• Guests at the Red Carpet Guests at the Red Carpet
• Guests at the Red Carpet Guests at the Red Carpet
• Guests at the Red Carpet Guests at the Red Carpet
• Guests at the Red Carpet Guests at the Red Carpet
• Phionah Nyangoma Klahn (Colorado) - Swimsuit Competition Phionah Nyangoma Klahn (Colorado) - Swimsuit Competition
• Aida Doris Kinkufi (Wisconsin) - Swimsuit Competition Aida Doris Kinkufi (Wisconsin) - Swimsuit Competition
• Dorothy Leticia Nakibirige (Minnesota) - Swimsuit Competition Dorothy Leticia Nakibirige (Minnesota) - Swimsuit Competition
• Porshia Nakalanda (California) - Swimsuit Competition Porshia Nakalanda (California) - Swimsuit Competition
• Ratibah Ismail El-Gazzar (Colorado) - Talent Competition Ratibah Ismail El-Gazzar (Colorado) - Talent Competition
• Priscilla Nankya (California) performs a hairdo - Talent Competition Priscilla Nankya (California) performs a hairdo - Talent Competition
• Jennifer Lutalo (Colorado) - Talent Competition Jennifer Lutalo (Colorado) - Talent Competition
• Tausi Suedi, CEO Childbirth Survival International, Honoree, Miss Uganda North America Rise Up Award Tausi Suedi, CEO Childbirth Survival International, Honoree, Miss Uganda North America Rise Up Award
• Crowning Moment - (L-R) Yvette Kibwika, former Miss Uganda North America, Barbara Kimbugwe, former Miss Uganda, Yvonne Kushemererwa, 2017 Miss... Crowning Moment - (L-R) Yvette Kibwika, former Miss Uganda North America, Barbara Kimbugwe, former Miss Uganda, Yvonne Kushemererwa, 2017 Miss...
• Yvonne Kushemererwa, 2017 Miss Uganda North America Yvonne Kushemererwa, 2017 Miss Uganda North America
• Equity Bank Team with some of the contestants. (L-R) Aida (contestant), Doreen (Equity), Yvonne (Queen), Patricia (Equity), Juliet, Doreen, Tekla... Equity Bank Team with some of the contestants. (L-R) Aida (contestant), Doreen (Equity), Yvonne (Queen), Patricia (Equity), Juliet, Doreen, Tekla...
• Yvonne Kushemererwa answering a question in the final round. She went on to win the competition. Congratulations! Yvonne Kushemererwa answering a question in the final round. She went on to win the competition. Congratulations!
•  

Twitter

Share on Tumblr