Kenza Johanna Ameloot, Miss Belgium 2024, has expressed her readiness to contribute to the revival of the Miss Rwanda pageant.
In an exclusive interview with ICK News on September 11, 2024, the Belgian beauty queen of Rwandan descent highlighted the importance of the competition in empowering young women and voiced her support for its return.
Ameloot emphasized the positive impact Miss Rwanda had on young girls in Rwanda, stating, “I think that Miss Rwanda really empowered women, and it is very important to do everything and get this competition back.”
She also pointed out that the competition served as a platform to show African girls and women that they could achieve their dreams without necessarily leaving their home countries.
“Some believe that dreaming of going to America, Europe is the big dream, but you guys have a wonderful country here and you can achieve anything you want by here,” she explained.
Ameloot expressed her willingness to contribute her knowledge and talents towards the return of Miss Rwanda if needed.
She further shared her desire to visit Rwanda and engage in discussions with former titleholders and organizers about how to restore the contest. “I am confident that one day I will come back to Rwanda and sit down with other Miss Rwanda winners, including those from 2020, 2021, and 2022, to talk about how we can bring the Miss Rwanda competition back, with the right leadership and positive goals, just like it used to be.”
Miss Rwanda was suspended on May 10, 2022, following a decision by the then Ministry of Youth and Culture (now the Ministry of Youth and Arts).
The suspension came after the head of Rwanda Inspiration Back Up, the company responsible for organizing Miss Rwanda, Dieudonné Ishimwe (popularly known as Prince Kid), was placed under investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct involving past contestants.
The Miss Rwanda contest was initially revived in 2009. The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. It returned again in 2012 through a joint effort between the government and private organizations. Starting in 2014, Rwanda Inspiration Back Up, led by Ishimwe, took over the organization of the pageant until it was halted in 2022.