The third edition of Miss East Africa Paris was held in June 7th 2014 at the prestigious location at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, on the boat the ‘Vedettes de Paris’. The event was under the patronage of Her Excellency Mrs. Salma Ahmed, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya and Chair of the East African Community Group of Ambassadors. The pageant was sponsored by Kenya Airways, Bank of Africa, L’Oreal Paris and Suzie Beauty-Kenya.
The contested featured 15 contestants from the East African Community Diaspora in France. A Kenyan, Ms. June Anyango Odhiambo, a second year Masters Student in Economics and Management specializing in Entrepreneurship was officially crowned and named Miss East Africa Paris 2014. The elated winner dedicated her win to her parents in Kenya, Mr. and Mrs. Elly Odhiambo. The newly crowned Miss East Africa France looks forward to empowering women to start their own businesses and she would like to start her own ‘Maison de Couture’ in France to link Kenya and France.
The first runners-up was Ms. Angela Iradukunda from Rwanda and second runners- up was Ms. Maimouna Yusuf from Tanzania.
The contestants went through a stiff selection process; they had a lot to prove to the judges. The jury included, Mr. Serge Raymond- Bank of Africa-France, Mrs. Claire Mathijsen- Chairperson of ‘Rafiki Ya Maisha’, Mrs Olive Ugo-Nlemadim-of UNESCO and Mrs. Annie Cartier of Kenya Airways-France.
The well-attended event also saw African Fashion Designers from Africa showcase their beautiful creations. The designers who showcased their works included Martha Mpofu, owner of Goddess of House of Fashion from Zimbabwe, Designer Kashinde Mlenzi, owner of AfroTanzanite from Tanzania and Designer Awa Daabo, owner of the Fashion house of La Reine du Sheba from Senegal.
The guests who graced the event were representatives of the East African Missions in Paris, namely Ambassador Salma Ahmed, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya, Ambassador Begum Karim Taj, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E Mr. Dieudonné Ndabarushimana, Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi, H.E Mrs. Nimisha Madhvani, and Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda Uganda. The event witnessed a huge turnout of the East African Community in France and the French Community.
The event has been billed by its organizers as one that combines beauty, talent, tradition, knowledge and elegance, an extraordinary evening of authentic East African entertainment. Its founder Mrs. Jacinta Muli Surcouf acknowledges that it has been a challenge preparing the event. The event Organiser, Ms Bauwa Alambo noted that despite having a small community in France, the Diaspora is supportive and steadfast.
An event of this magnitude needed expertise from outside. This they provided and generously imparted valuable ideas on matters regarding communication, photography, publicity and even the boat decorations and seating arranged accordingly for the special guests, thanks to Cleopatra Mukula, Mrs.Mildred Otunga(Kenya Embassy), Grace Sicard have actively given them a push, not forgetting Dorothy Dumont and Mr Moni Manyange (Kenya Embassy)who were the MC’s of the ceremony that night.
The last edition was held in June 2011, when Franco-Rwandese, Shelina Scaravelli was crowned Miss East Africa Paris 2011.