Keza Namazzi wins Miss Teen 2014 crown

 

 

When Keza Namazzi was voted Entertainment Prefect for Kampala Junior Academy (KJA), she was quoted by The Observer to have said, “I just wanted this post but I cannot dance. My parents also wanted me to be a prefect and promised that they would make me a party if I got through. I will be good to my friends and will not punish them harshly because they voted me with love.” Well, she was only 10 years old then and in Primary Four but her star had started rising. In the same year, she became the first presenter of NTV’s children’s show, Planet K.

It is her confidence from hosting the TV show that helped her emerge the winner of Mirinda Miss Teen 2014. The grand finale was held today (16^th August) at Kati Kati grounds. Her road to the finals started when the search team visited her school – Mount St Mary’s College Namagunga. Contestant after contestant took to the stage to woo the judges. But none stood out since most of them could only dance and for most their levels of confidence and question approach were wanting. But one girl swept them away and ended up being crowned Miss Teen Namagunga and that girl was Keza Namazzi. She chose to do what she knows best- by proving that she can host a TV show and wants to become Uganda’s Oprah Winfrey.

It is that that same ability that helped her to win the overall crown.

The 1^st runner up was Marianne Katusiime (Nabisunsa Girls School) while 2^nd runner up was Gloria Rutaremwa (Seeta High Mukono). Linda Muhooza from Eden International (Mbarara) was voted Miss Popularity. There were performances by Fille, Mun G, Navio, Pallaso and Sheebah. Congs to Mirinda and Buzz Events for this was by far the most successful Miss Teen since it was started three years ago.

A mix of this year’s and last year’s winners. Far right is the Mirinda Brand Manager Berna Kizza.

MC Talha (C) poses with his fans

Miss Uganda 2013/14 Stellah Nsereko and Miss Uganda 2013/14 finalist Jaylor Birungi

Fille performs at the fully packed event

Mrinda Miss teen grande finale at Kati Kati

Last year’s winners display their cash prize

The search for Mirinda Miss Teen 2014 comes to an end this weekend, bringing the curtains down to a very exciting season. All the action will take place on Saturday between 9am and 6pm at Kati Kati grounds. After the team traversing different regions picking out the talent and gearing up for the grand finale, show goers should expect an entertaining show from the beginning to end.

This year, another exciting category has been added whereby the teens get to vote for their favourite contestant. By press time, Linda Muhoza, representing Mbarara’s Eden International School, was leading the online votes, closely followed by Keza Namazzi from Mount St Mary’s Namagunga. Namazzi, a former children’s TV show host, is also one of the top contenders for the most coveted crown of the day, Mirinda Miss Teen Star 2014 and school fees for a year. More than 20 girls will contest for that title, won by Patience Ahabwe of Nsambya Girls School last year. The other categories to be contested for are Miss Brainy, Miss Entrepreneurship and Miss Fashionista.

The judges, Tattu, KK and Angela are going to have a long day choosing the eventual winner

Apart from having the teens showcasing their dancing, acting, designing and entrepreneurial abilities, there will be performances from artistes such as Irene Ntale, Fille, Sheeba, Rema, among others, plus comedians. Deejays Roja and Mark will be in charge of the music while MCs Sheila, Bettina and Talha will be the day’s hosts.

Berna Kizza, the Mirinda brand manager, says this year’s finale will be better than last years.

“Over the last three months, the search for the Mirinda Miss Teen 2014 has been to eastern, central and western Uganda, and individual schools in and around Kampala. Our objective was to engage with our core audience through Miss Teen and the experience has been more than exciting. We shall undoubtedly have a better experience than last year’s” she said.

Mirinda Miss Teen is an annual talent contest that aims at showcasing the great talents and characters of today’s teenage girls.

Entrance fee is Shs 5,000 that comes with a free soda.

Miss Tourism returns with regional appeal

The ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities resurrected Miss Tourism Uganda last year, thanks to the undying efforts and enthusiasm of the current minister, Maria Mutagamba.

With little budget, the pageant kicked off and the finalists had a time of their lives, visiting national parks in Uganda. They also got a chance to fly to different parts of the world as the country’s tourism ambassadors.

The competition culminated into a successful grand finale at Sheraton hotel in October, where Barbra Nakitto walked away with the crown. She went on to represent Uganda at Miss Tourism International in Malaysia, where she emerged Miss Friendship.

A year later, the pageant is back, this time with a plan to go regional. Unlike last year where contestants were picked from only central region, this time round, the beauty contest will be taken to the different parts of the country. While officially unveiling this year’s contest at a cocktail held at the Kampala Serena hotel last Friday, Mutagamba revealed that the regional contests would be organized by the regional tourism clusters under the auspice of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).

According to the requirements, the aspirants must be Ugandan, aged between 18 and 29, with a minimum height of five feet and seven inches tall and must be maximum body size 8 among other qualities. Regional auditions will take place in Busoga, Kigezi, West Nile, Buganda, Ankole, eastern, Karamoja, Tooro and Northern regions.

The top three girls from each of the clusters will compete for the crown at the grand finale to be held at Serena hotel on October 17, 2014.

Before the finale, the contestants will spend twenty days in boot camp, where they will be trained in public speaking, runway poise, wardrobe, nutrition and exercise, among other skills, which will help the eventual winner stand a chance when she represents the country at Miss Tourism International in Malaysia on December 31.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Kenya Airways, and Serena hotel are some of this year’s major partners.

BELOW ARE THE DETAILS WE HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR:

 

MISS TOURISM TOORO 2014 PROGRAMME:

6-15 AUG: Registration for Miss Tooro Tourism

9 AUG: Media Launch

9-15 AUG: Compilations/publicity of Miss Tourism Tooro contestants

16-20 AUG: Pre Selections,touring the Tourism Capital

23-24 AUG: Touring Tooro,residential training and enjoy the western curcuit

5 -6SEPT: Kyenjojo beautification

8-11 SEPT: Boot Camp

15 SEPT: Pre-Selections/Auditions

19 SEPT: Miss Tourism Tooro Gala Finals

 

BUSOGA REGISTRATION

Registration is at Source Cafe, Main street, Jinja at only Ugx 25,000.

Deadline is 23rd August.