Monica Kansiime Kasyate wins Miss Uganda 2007

Sometimes the it happens and you can’t help it. Monica Kansiime Kasyate won Miss Uganda 2007. This twenty one year old was the last contestant and was in 29^th position. From an underdog her rise at the top not only drew surprise but protests as well. All Africa reports:

But then again, such contests are rarely about crowd favourites like Diana Alinaffe who put on an impressive dance/mime to a rendition of Celine Dion's Because You Loved Me coming top.

That was not enough to book her a place among the top 15. However, one could say Sarah Kagole's shiny shoe dance to Dave Koz's jazz hit You Are Me I am You probably propelled her high enough to garner the second runner-up slot.

Still, it is always about the judges, this time a posse of seven members, some business interests in commercial enterprise, trading in hairpieces and radio broadcasting. And lest we forget, these people's word like in most contests is final. That is how Monica the underdog emerged from behind (she was the 29th and last contestant) to wear the tiara outgoing Miss Uganda Praise Akankwatsa fidgeted to fix on her petite head.

Hellen Karungi, the affable lawyer was named first runner-up. Chances now are that Monica will be competing for the limelight with her elder NTV reporter/news anchor sibling. But the impending sibling rivalry notwithstanding, Monica gets to travel to China for Miss World on top of receiving a courtesy [chauffer-driven] car, Dell laptop, gold membership at AAR and a scholarship after her reign.

We'll be reading her balance sheet at the end of her reign, curious about whether she helped humanity, acted as a role model to society, was a voice to the voiceless and if she crusaded the plight of street children. That was her clichéd reply to the question about what cause she would take up if she won. Championing something like obstetrics fistula would reap better results but the judges thought otherwise.

The pageant started with 29 finalists at 8 p.m. First, it was the evening wear segment which was followed by question answer session. The turning point of the competition was question answer session.

Anything can happen in beauty competition. In 1994 Miss India contest all the nation was expecting Aishwarya Rai to win but surprising them all another girl won the title who later became Miss Universe, Sushmita Sen. This is how the whole thing works.

Related article:

All Africa