21-year-old deaf beauty in race for coveted Miss Tourism title

  Twenty one year old Babelynn Mukila who is deaf displays her beauty and smile during a photo session at her Mtopanga residence, Sunday November 09, 2014. She is among the finalists who will contest for the Mombasa County Miss Tourism pageant which will be held this coming weekend. Photo by Gideon Maundu/Standard.  

As the curtains open for this year's edition of the Miss Tourism Kenya, Mombasa County, one contestant will be making history of sorts.

Babelynn Mukila, a 21-year-old hearing impaired beauty, will on Saturday night battle it out with others for the coveted crown.

Ms Mukila, who lost her hearing when she was four, is the third of six children.

"We are excited to bring her on board. She went through the rigorous auditions and satisfied the judges," said Brian Stevens, who was the chief judge and the models' trainer.

Mukila is currently doing a beauty course at New Image Beauty College in Mombasa and is a former student of St Angela's School for the Deaf in Mumias, Kakamega County.

"It has always been her passion to participate in beauty pageants and we thought it fit to have her enter the Miss Tourism contest, and here she is," said Margaret Malonza, Mukila's mother, adding that the family has firmly supported her daughter's ambitions.

Mukila's interpreter, Catherine Matara, expressed her excitement at the achievement and described her as a fast learner and a highly disciplined individual who is up to the challenge.

"By having her participate, we have achieved a feat like no other and managed to change people's attitude towards those with hearing impairments," said Ms Matara.

Mukila will be running against Neyomi Ochanda and Tima Ochiel, both law students from the University of Nairobi's Mombasa campus, as well as Mombasa-based actresses Winnie Bwire and Anita Wawuda, among others.

Hotelier Debra Mwango and Moi University student Madina Ali will also be among those fighting for the crown.

Event organiser Salome Murithi said preparations for the event were in top gear.

"We have partnered with organisers of the first ever in-house beauty show and hope to have a memorable event as we select our new Miss Tourism, Mombasa County, queen," said Ms Murithi.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Stacy Zalambi won the Miss Tourism Kenya, Kwale County, title on Friday night and bagged Sh100,000 at a colourful fete in Ukunda.

Ms Zalambi, an International Relations student at the United States International University in Nairobi, received the cash award from the county government.

Cash rewards

In addition to other goodies given, she will spend two nights in the Maasai Mara and also earn a monthly salary of about Sh10,000 for one year to help market the county.

She will also have her own desk at the the county offices. Hundreds of fans thronged the famous Ukunda showground to witness the event that was presided over by Governor Salim Mvurya.

"I will seek to promote the unity of all Mijikenda communities and emphasise education for all as these are the pillars of our development," she said.

The second cash prize of Sh60,000 went to Rehema Ganguma from Matuga while Mercy Kanana from Msambweni came third and won Sh40,000.

Mr Mvurya said the event had come at a crucial time when the county's Diani Beach has been declared the best destination in Africa.

He asked the Western countries that had imposed travel advisories to lift them, insisting that the county was safe.

"The winner will help us market our county and this could not have come at a better time as we are enjoying the limelight of being named the best destination," he said.

The governor said the county was strategically placed as a giant in tourism and culture, and had partnered with the Presidential Music Commission to help select four categories of local talented productions to take part in international competitions.

"We want people to know about our resources and are ready for any competition; things will not be the same again," he noted.

Tourism Executive Adam Sheikh said his office had identified other programmes in strategic locations at airports that would boost the number of guests coming to the county.

Others present at the fete included deputy governors Fatuma Achani (Kwale) and Peninah Malonza (Kitui).