The Samsung Miss India Kenya™

It was pomp and glamour Indian-style last Saturday the 4th of September as Safari Park Hotel hosted yet another beauty pageant. So colourful was the event that one could easily have mistaken it for a fashion show. Indeed, for style, taste, colour and glitz, no recent event comes close to the just concluded Samsung Miss India-Kenya final. As guests entered the venue, it was clear that they had taken time to dress up for the occasion. Gender, Sports and Culture Minister Ochillo Ayacko, who was guest of honour.

Melissa de Blok was named the winner, but not before all 10 contestants impressed the audience with their high level of intelligence. The Q&A session was a delight, given that it is usually the lowest point in most beauty pageants. The girls were obviously well informed, well read and more confident than most of those seen in other pageants. The organisers attributed this to the rigorous training they took the girls through as well as parental support, which they noted is often lacking in other pageants.

De Blok, a budding musician whose stage name is Mellow Dee, won everyone's heart with her song on HIV/Aids as well as the controversial manner in which she answered the questions put to her. Asked, for instance, if Indian culture discriminates against women, Melissa stunned everyone by answering in the affirmative, qualifying her reply with examples.

All in all, the event was well organised, unlike similar events, which almost always begin late, the Samsung Miss India Kenya started on time. And interestingly, the venue was full yet there were no people wandering around looking for seats.