A new Miss World Kenya is crowned
The new Miss World Kenya, 19-year-old Juliet Ochieng is overcome with emotion when she won the coveted title to represent Kenya in China.
The curtain came down on the Fair and Lovely Miss World Kenya 2004 finale with pomp, style and splendour.
The event, at Nairobi's Safari Park Hotel on Friday night, attracted a large audience despite the high admission fee of Sh2,500 and the far-flung venue on the city outskirts.
The winner was 19-year-old Nyanza beauty queen, Juliet Atieno Ochieng', who had battled many odds to claim the title and the honour of being the face of Fair and Lovely products throughout her reign.
The first and second runners-up were Mita Sambo and Nelly Gathii.
As the night's hosts, Ms Patricia Amiira and Mr Mwaniki Mageria, announced the verdict, the chief judge, Nation TV's Up Close and Candid host Wahome Muchiri said: "She is striking, she is brilliant, she is 100 per cent Kenyan!"
As they say in China, for the country that hosts the Miss World 2004 beauty pageant in December, a journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step.
And so has the journey begun for glamorous Juliet, an orphan and student of Nairobi's Griffin's College, who said she was worried about skipping lessons to participate in the contest.
And what does she want to do with her future? Her main focus is the establishment of a foundation to help orphans to achieve their life goals.
Meanwhile, if the event was glamorous and stylish, it was partly because the guests all came dressed to kill, as per the invitation letter.
The franchise holder and organiser, Mrs Terry Mungai of Ashleys, was taking no chances, and everything went like clock-work. Every detail was catered for, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the production manager and stage set designer, Mr Benjamin Kaniaru. From the programme to the decor, it was clear that the grand finale was going to be of world standard.
Backstage, among the contestants there was excitement and nail-biting tension as guests outside prepared to sample true Kenyan beauty. The entertainment before the show got under way was sizzling hot with dancing by the Safari Cats and singing by Eric Wainana and Walter Mong'are, or Nyambane, who sang his chart-topper, Sweety Banana.
Looking at the participants, the judges and the guests, it was evident that the unspoken fashion theme for the night was all about what is truly Kenyan.
