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Kenyan beauty to achieve a first at Miss Global pageant

By SYLVANIA AMBANI September 21st, 2016 2 min read

A former Miss Tourism Kenya finalist will achieve a first by becoming the country’s first representative at the Miss Global beauty pageant slated for this weekend in the Philippines.

However, the fate didn’t come easy for Miss Timma Keila who left the country for the Philippines on September 10 after many months of frustration as she sought sponsorship from Mombasa county.

According to John Wanyama, the franchise holder of the Miss Global – Kenya, the organizers of the Miss Global 2016 were only responsible for all the expenses of the beauty queen while at the Philippines but individual franchise holders had to provide air tickets for their finalists.

Miss Timma Keila, Kenya's representative at Miss Global beauty pageant in the Philippines. PHOTO | COURTESY
Miss Timma Keila, Kenya’s representative at Miss Global beauty pageant in the Philippines. PHOTO | COURTESY

This prompted him and his partner Ms Farzanna Essani to seek help from the county government of Mombasa.

However their meetings with the county Executive for Youth gender and sports office did not yield fruits.

EMPOWERING WOMEN

“Even after getting an appointment and presenting our case, there was no much help and we only wanted sponsorship for her return air ticket that was $1,750. In fact we were given indefinite answers, and we were advocating for a young lady to represent not only Kenya but the county of Mombasa at an international platform,” says Mr John Wanyama.

Kenya's representative at Miss Global beauty pageant in the Philippines, Miss Timma Keila, with other contestants. PHOTO | COURTESY
Kenya’s representative at Miss Global beauty pageant in the Philippines, Miss Timma Keila, with other contestants. PHOTO | COURTESY

The team then had the fortune of meeting with the director general for National Museums of Kenya Mzalendo Kibunjia whom they gave their proposal to.

“The National Museums of Kenya together with the Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts decided to sponsor Miss Keila to go and participate at this year’s Miss Global event in Philippines because her advocacy at the pageant is to sell the Kenya culture and traditions which aggregates to our own vision and mission,” said Mr Kibunjia.

“The ministry inconjuction with the National Museums of Kenya is looking to empower such youths and will be launching the 100 best monuments initiative that will help celebrate all the county’s histories, which she will also play a part as the initiative ambassador,” Mr Kibunja added.

The goal of the Miss Global event is empowering women, embracing culture and embodying the beauty within.