By CTW Team

On November 27, Precious Andin, a second-year Bachelor of Pharmacy student, was crowned Miss Culture 2025/2026, an achievement she describes as more than a title; it is a purpose revealed. According to Precious, the Mr & Miss USIU-Africa platform exposed her to the reality of being truly unstoppable, not defined by people’s expectations but by choosing to let her unique light shine. She notes that this experience taught her not to search for confidence but to live in confidence: to be ready, prepared, and anchored in values and principles that shaped her. It expanded her network, stretched her beyond limits, and helped her grow in ways she never imagined.

Recounting her experience, she expresses that before joining the program, she often wondered how she would survive balancing the demands of a pharmacy course with the intensity of the training. Precious mentions how scared she was, but she grounded herself by remembering the reason why she joined: to redefine the meaning of being a model, to open herself to a new adventure, and to drive a movement after gaining the skills. She recalled walking into a room where someone asked her in an indifferent tone, “So you’re going for Miss USIU-Africa? You know, when it’s all over, you may wonder if it was worth your time and money.” That question, she claims, lingered, and every time things got tough, she asked herself if it was really worth it. But Precious kept going, guided by her inner child who longed to explore and strengthened by the verse in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“I watched myself grow. My confidence grew, my mindset grew, and even my style evolved. And I embraced a new mantra: God got me,” Precious says. Notwithstanding, the training was rigorous, demanding strategy, discipline, and organization to navigate. Monday to Friday was a constant move, but it wasn’t without fun. She notes that they did squats as punishment, created choreography for couple walks that took courage, sat on the wall during endurance drills, and faced challenges that pushed them to rethink their creativity and resilience. “Amidst all this, something in me blossomed, and I wasn’t alone; I watched my colleagues grow, too. It was all meant for good,” she states.

Speaking of good, Precious points out that being crowned Miss Culture 2025/2026 means redefining the culture of unity in diversity at USIU-Africa. It means building love into the community, supporting students to discover their potential, and creating a movement where stigma and division are replaced by acceptance and growth. According to her, being Miss Culture is about helping students blossom: to rise above limitations, to embrace love, and to shine in their own unique ways.

For Precious, what was once a dream is now a reality. “This is only the beginning. Stay tuned for what Miss Culture will bring, because the movement has just begun,” promises Precious.