Bold and beautiful Miss University

By MATILDA NZIOKI

At around 7pm, Carnivore Restaurant’s dance floor is a pool of water caused by heavy rain, albeit the fact that the glamorous beauty pageant — Mr and Miss University of Nairobi —put together by Pambazuka’s Leakey Odera should be starting anytime soon.

Organisers can’t help but wonder about the show’s attendance. But, management clears the mess and within the blink of an eye a crowd of enthusiasts start flocking the venue. This is yet another campus pageantry following Miss Maseno and Moi Universitys that Pulse graced earlier in the year.

The winners.

Backstage, 31 female and male contestants are busy doing their last minute preparations, assisted by stylists. The crowd waits no more as KJ steps on stage and mesmerizes with a few jokes. MCs Ruth Bubi and Jacob Ouma take over and introduce the first category of the competition; the creative wear. And aren’t the models artists too! One struts the runway donning calabashes as brassier and another turned plastic paper bags to a stunning dress.

What follows is African wear and talent show. Later 10 finalists are drawn, five of both sexes. They step forward for the Q and A session where judges, including KTN’s Maryanne Resian, pose questions mostly on political and social arena. The event’s theme I have a Date, Do You? tackles the draft constitution referendum as well as the social dating.

In between the heats several rappers thrill the rowdy crowd, who had all through been chanting names of their favourite contestants. First on stage is Mandugu Digital Studios singer Tony Montana followed by Cartel and the Anyuola Family. O-Double and Secret Service campus dance group also thrill. Right before the winners are announced, Abbas crowns the night’s performances. The response is massive.

By now judges finalise their decision and the best part of the soiree is ushered. A slender beauty 19-year-old Michelle Ngure, a first-year Electric Engineering student emerges the night’s queen amidst a thunderous cheer, as camera flashlights bombard her.

Mr. University of Nairobi was Briston Obano a fourth-year Environmental Engineering Student. They were serenaded by the first runners-up Wanja Mungai and Robert Oketch, and the second runners-up, Erskine Kiliru and Valentine Ndegwa respectively.

A first timer on the runway Michelle was overjoyed and plans to pursue modelling further. "I couldn’t believe it when I heard my name being called out and I couldn’t stop smiling! I was overwhelmed with every kind of emotion," she told Pulse.

The prizes were overwhelming. The king and queen pocketed Sh30,000 and an extra Sh40,000 courtesy of sponsors. Nokia 5330 phones with free DStv for one year and a laptop from John Kiarie (KJ) and Hussein Muhammad of Youth Agenda. The University will also cater for a semester’s fees for the two.

First runner- up took home Sh20,000 and Nokia 5230 while the second runners-up got Nokia X3 Slide and Sh10,000 each, donated by Minister for East Africa Communiy Emerson Kingi who graced the occasion. All participants had consolation prizes from Indigo Cosmetics who also awarded the winners a gift bag. KJ and Hussein also gave Sh5,000 airtime to all the top 10 finalists.

The night came to a close as Versus the DJ and DJ Kamjo churned tunes that kept the crowd on the floor till the crack of dawn.