I am just getting started- Miss Tourism Mombasa model Babelynn

By Stevens Muendo | 7yrs ago | 4 min read

Watching Papa Dennis’ latest video, one easily notices the chemistry between the gospel singer and the video vixen, Babelynn Mukila, the Miss Tourism Mombasa crown holder.

In the In Love video, Papa Dennis is seen serenading Babelynn inside a luxury boat on an ocean adventure.

She does not disappoint and for a moment, one can easily be convinced that these two are in love. And, why not?

Babelynn is not your ordinary model. The deaf Mombasa-born beauty has continued to beat all the odds that can be associated with a physically challenged girl of her age and is now using her status to advocate for change even as she eyes big dreams in life.

Looking elegant and fashionable, the composed Babelynn, who had travelled all the way from Mombasa to Nairobi for the interview, shakes my hand with a charming smile before her sign interpreter Silvia Muturi takes the cue.

Keenly, she observes every move. She easily gets comfortable and even cracks a joke to expose her social demeanour and a crisp sense of humour.

Even before I reach out for my pen and note book, we are way into a lively conversation in which she opens up about her ambitions and challenges, challenges that she rather sees as opportunities into her dreams.

The last time we caught up with her was six months ago when she puzzled many after beating 44 other finalists in the Miss Tourism Mombasa contest to join the Kenyan finals. A lot has happened since.

“During the competition, just like it was the case when I was crowned the runners-up during a similar competition in 2014, some of the girls looked down on me as I am deaf.

In fact, it took the intervention of local leaders including my current employer, the Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, for the organisers to accept my application as a contestant.

These are some of the challenges that I face every day. They are part of the challenges deaf girls face in a world where policies have not been put in place to cater for the needs of the physically challenged,” Babelynn, a third-born in a family of six remarks.

“Recently, I went seeking for university enrolment in a number of Mombasa universities and could not get admission.

I was referred to the University of Nairobi – main campus- yet I live in Mombasa and that has now forced me to take up an online course with a university in the United Kingdom.

This happens to people with such challenges in hospitals, police stations, courts, planes... every public place.

Something must be done and I have taken it upon myself to advocate for such changes,” affirms the brilliant girl who is currently running a communications job in Governor Joho’s office.

After winning the Miss Tourism Mombasa contest, Babelynn started working in various departments within the Mombasa County government among them the Department of Tourism, Development and Culture as well as the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports besides working with international organisations that are helping fund her community projects.

“Recently I hosted a team from the Commonwealth Youth Committee in Mombasa after learning about their humanitarian activities and engaging them through Facebook.

Am also registering an NGO whose main role will be to enlighten deaf girls and also help reduce the stigma they face. Many parents try to ‘hide’ girls with conditions as mine and that does not help a thing.

I want to be an ambassador for change on this front,” says Babelynn, who is also a basketball player and a big fan of Tyra Banks whom she referrers as a fashion icon and her role model.

“Growing up, I would sit in front of the TV and watch her (Tyra) do her fashion thing. She is such a role model.

I am an adventurer and a go-getter. I am ambitious and always believe that there is nothing impossible in life,” Babelynn, who lost her hearing ability at the age of five says as she insists that God comes first in everything she thinks and does.

“I love gospel and old school music. I also love swimming and playing basketball. However, modelling comes first and my dream is to win an international modelling crown.

Now that I am almost done with Miss Tourism, I plan to enter the Miss World competition as one of the means to this international quest and dream,” remarks Babelynn who jokes that any man eying her will wait a bit longer as her focus is currently in pursuing modelling.

“Any man eying me must be God fearing and must have a good heart as well as the ability to understand and equal my kind of humour.

But that is not for now... my focus is not on that now,” she wittily sums it up.