By Silas Otieno and Lydia Masabarakiza

Last Friday, USIU-Africa hosted the annual Mr. and Miss USIU-Africa pageant at the Broadwalk Mall ballroom. The event brought together USIU-Africa students from diverse backgrounds who competed for coveted titles that recognized their beauty, talent, culture, leadership and dedication to various causes. The night saw 22 contestants take part in the pageant, with each of them trying to win over the judges and the audience with their creativity and performances.

Organized by the Mr. and Miss USIU-Africa planning committee in collaboration with the Student Association Cabinet (SAC), the evening began with a warm welcome from the charismatic MCs, Hype Ballo and Kendi Christine, as well as remarks from the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Dr. Victor Boiyo. The event also featured a lineup of incredible performances followed, including dancers, singers, and a showcase by the Iconics, USIU-Africa's cheerleaders. DJs Linstorm and Mista C, kept the energy alive, while guest artist Charisma took the stage in a show-stopping performance just before the announcement of the winners, adding excitement and magic to the event.

The contestants competed in categories such as group walks, cultural presentations, talent showcases, creative wear, high fashion, individual walks, and a thought-provoking Q&A session, each segment reflecting their hard work and passion.

The night ended in the crowning of Surene Oganya, a third-year Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Technology student and Anita Mueni, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar and a Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration student as Mr. and Miss USIU-Africa.

This year’s pageant featured the participation of several Mastercard Foundation Scholars, including Nyagonya Bath (Cohort 6), who was crowned Ms. Culture, and Asunta Adut (Cohort 5), who was awarded the title of Ms. Environment for her advocacy on environmental sustainability. On the male front, Buoy Gatwech (Cohort 9) secured the title of Mr. Culture, celebrating the rich cultural diversity that defines USIU-Africa.

Other winners of the night included:

• Mr. Congeniality: John Ongeri Sitali
• Miss Congeniality: Chery Chebet Tapteger
• Mr. Environment: Sinclair Lwande
• Miss Environment: Asunta Adut
• Mr. Culture: Buoy Gatwech Chol
• Miss Culture: Nyangonya Chloe Bath
• Mr. USIU-Africa First Runner-Up: Mazeed Oyelekan
• Miss USIU-Africa First Runner-Up: Whitney Alouch

A highlight of the evening was the appearance of former Mr. and Miss USIU-Africa title holders, who graced the stage for a final farewell, joined by title holders from other universities. This moment celebrated the legacy of the title holders. The crowning of the 2024/25 Mr. and Miss USIU-Africa marked the end of a pageant that was indeed a spectacular celebration of creativity, community, and the vibrant spirit of USIU-Africa.