Every year, local colleges and universities hold an event that has become a norm in our colleges. I must say that tertiary students are just but very creative when it comes to such events. And to think that most are studying courses that are very contrary to their creativity beats my mind. Well, the Moi University Nairobi Campus, just completed their beauty pageant this year. The event, graced by students and lecturers from the university, other universities and general public, including local artists.

The entertainers..

The invited artists, included a group of young dancers whose name i forget 😦 but held the crowds interest until the main event began. Some of their dance moves were hilarious.. The MC and comedian Eric Omondi and his colleague cracked us up with their funny jokes. The “King of Genge”, Nonini could only be the days artist for University students!!

The young dancers

The MC-Eric Omondi

Nonini, the king of Genge music

Nonini trying his lines on one of the contestants

And yes, she seemed happy about them 🙂

As a custom, all contestants, men and ladies, all dressed in black and white have to first walk in a file-for the crowd to see them. Well, the ladies were photogenic, the men not so photogenic but i tried capturing them. The event has four major categories and themes focusing on  Causal wear, creative category or sports, Dinner wear and cultures. My favourite category in all the pageants I’ve attended is always the Creating category…

 

Casual wear category..

Under the casual wear, as one of the contestants explain, the trainers emphasize that one has to wear something that they are comfortable with in public. Well, the casual wear was admirable.

 

The Cultural theme..

The contestants showcased various cultural styles, including local Kenyan cultures, Western African and Asian attires.Those who didn’t have exact attires got a bit creative.

 

The creative category..

Well, my favorite category, had to pay full attention here to a an almost no-breathing-point!! I have to comment, only students can be this creative and get away with it..The contestants used any materials they could lay their hands on. Some materials that some of the observers  found interesting, offending or controversial were showcased including bottle-tops, plastic papers, plastic straw, sisal, food-spinach, coconut shells, avocado peels and the most interesting outfit-the sanitary-pad outfit. Personally, I still want to get to know what the contestants were thinking when they came up with some of these ideas..!!!

 

The Dinner wear..

If i didn’t know better I would say that most of the guys here were proposing to the ladies, all went down on their knees; only difference is that they all used one red rose for all the ladies..some gave the ladies other accessories which am sure were returned to them much later. Well, it was amazing, they were only modelling.

 

The winners..and the Real winners!

The time had come for the judges to choose the winners. I would have thought that the crowd votes for the winners but not in this case. They first had to announce the Top Five including the men and ladies. During this time, all ten contestants were asked questions like, What motivated you to take part in the contest? (And she answered that she wanted to do this, for fun, for exposure, and then the real answer came out, my mom made me do this!!); Who is your role model? (Of course, “My mom” is always the answer!), Tell us some effects of climate change? (Really? Well, she gave very good answers), What would you do if you won the contest? (Never mind the answer, the question really tells me that am not the winner!), What is beauty to you? (And you can tell that the question was to be answered by a guy..and the answer, “As a model I would be tempted to describe the physical beauty, but personally beauty to me is the C-H-A-R-A-C-T-E-R.”) Well, I give the guy lots of credit for that simple definition..

And to the sanitary-pad clad contestant, “You had a very interesting outfit, do you think it was controversial and why? (Already the judges and some of the crowd thought it was controversial. The answer, “Yes it was controversial. See, I come from a very remote area and I didn’t use or know sanitary pads when growing up!” And yes, much as available as they seem, not every girl can afford the luxury, which is why the Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central has been distributing sanitary pads to girl schools around the country!!

The judges had a tough time, they chose the winners but the crowd thought otherwise..

Current Mr. and Miss Moi University, Nairobi Campus 2012.

The pair apparently have many tasks and duties ahead of them during their reigning year. It wont be a smooth road like the judges and lecturers tell them. But i think a trip abroad is just the beginning of a smooth road!!