Iradukunda says Miss Rwanda crown a dream come true

By: ATHAN TASHOBYA

PUBLISHED: February 26, 2018 

Western Province's Liliane Iradukunda was crowned Miss Rwanda 2018 on Saturday. / All photos by Nadege Imbabazi

It is still sinking in. She woke up four times in the wee hours of Sunday morning thinking it was a dream.

“But it isn’t a dream. I can’t believe that I am Miss Rwanda. Dreams do come true,” said an ecstatic Lillian Iradukunda in an interview with The New Times.

18-year-old Iradukunda, who hails from Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District but represented Western Province in the beauty pageant, weighs 57kg, and is 1.70 metres tall, was crowned Miss Rwanda 2018 on Saturday night. She replaced Elsa Iradukunda, who won the coveted crown last year.

Despite this moment being her childhood dream, Iradukunda didn’t expect to win the crown. She, as she describes herself, was one of the most bashful and soft spoken girls of the 20 who were competing for the crown.

Iradukunda almost didn’t even make it to the six girls chosen to represent her province. She earned her spot on the second run in the pre-selection on probation.

“Every stage of Miss Rwanda was a surprise for me. I was on probation but I had faith. I never gave up and God has been by my side,” she says.

Iradukunda completed Senior Six last year at APADE Kicukiro and her dream is to be a tour operator. Asked why, she says, “Because I love tourism. I will study tourism and become an investor in the sector.”

Lilliane Iradukunda after being crowned Miss Rwanda.

Outgoing Miss Photogenic Nadia Mutesi places the sash on newly chosen Miss Photogenic Iradukunda.

L-R : Miss Photogenic Iradunkunda, Miss Congeniality Liliane Uwase Ndahiro, Miss Popularity Anastasie Umutoniwase and Miss Heritage Lydia Dushimimana.

Her project is to promote cultural tourism, but she says that she will not limit herself.

“I know the other 19 girls had awesome projects too. I want to work with all the people around me to develop my country.

“I am still a little too excited to focus on anything now. I am just enjoying the moment and may be when I go back home, I will focus with the help of my manager,” she says.

Iradukunda was crowned ‘Rwanda’s fairest’ in a colourful finale held at the iconic Kigali Convention Centre auditorium.

She faced stiff competition from 19 other girls who spent 14 days in a boot camp at Golden Tulip La Palisse Hotel in Nyamata.

But, she says, Shanittah Umunyana and Natacha Ursule Irebe who were crowned first and second runner up, respectively, were a force to reckon with.

The contestants on the big stage.

Revellers at the grand finale.

The girls join Yvan Buravan during a performance.

Iradukunda, who also scooped Miss Photogenic title, took home a brand new Suzuki Baleno worth Rwf18 million courtesy of Rwanda Motors, and will earn a monthly salary of Rwf800,000 for the next one year, courtesy of Cogebanque.

She also received additional prizes that include air tickets to international beauty contests from RwandAir, and cosmetics, among other goodies from different sponsors.

Iradukunda’s parents, Paul Ndoli and Chantal Uwimana, say that it was their daughter’s dream to be Miss Rwanda.

“Whenever she did something wrong at home I would tell her that it was contradictory to what Nyampinga (Kinyarwanda version for beauty queen) does and she would stop it right away. I am truly happy for her,” Uwimana, says.

Ndoli says that the family has been so supportive because that is what she wanted in life, and so “we had to support her through this journey.

“At home, Iradukunda is a humble girl and it is such a joy for us that she won,” he says.

The outgoing queen, Elsa Iradunkunda, congratulates Lilliane Iradukunda upon winning the crown.

Iradukunda answers a question after top 10 girls are selected.

It was a full house.

Rwanda Inspiration Backup, the organisers of the annual beauty pageant, had prmised that there would be some changes this year.

Unlike previous Miss Rwanda editions, contestants had an oral test that was moderated by Sonia Rolland, Miss France 2000, and other judges. Results from both written and oral pre-judgement were key to determining the contestants who made it to the top 10. The results were announced during the grand finale.

Contestants sat for a written test to assess their knowledge about different government programmes, the vision and mission of the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant, and their role in society.

The contestants perfrom a traditional dance.

On the panel was Sonia Rolland, a Rwandan-French actress and Miss France 2000; former Miss Universe contestant and Miss Rwanda 2016 Jolly Mutesi - the first beauty queen to represent Rwanda at the Miss World finals; Sandrine Isheja Butera, a radio presenter; Gilbert Rwabigwi, the leader of Youth Literacy Organisation (YouLI), a non-profit organisation that promotes literacy and learning; and Teddy Kaberuka, the co-founder and chief executive officer of IO4 Progress Limited.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/230243/