Players in the fashion industry have widely criticized the mediocrity that has taken over the country’s key beauty pageants namely; Miss Tourism and Miss World Kenya over the years, warning that if the trend carries on the contests might as well dwindle.

The just concluded Miss Tourism Kenya (MTK) pageant in particular has received massive criticism both from industry players and spectators at large with organizers and some participants engaging in a war of words on social media based on the occurrences of the gala event, which was held in Vihiga County over the weekend.

POOR ORGANISATION

“The just concluded pageant was way below expectation right from the organization to execution. The choice of venue was excellent because that develops awareness but standards were massacred. Entertainment was bad; setup did not befit a national contest the caliber of Miss Tourism Kenya, Poor lighting and Music that did not resonate with the Kenyan feel one would expect of a Miss Tourism Kenya National final show,” said Tony Chirah adding that although there were some great presentations from the contestants most were not well prepared due to an evident lack of training.

“The regional zoning has its balancing merits but also came with quality challenges because a number three in one region could be better than a number one of another,” he added.

Kwame Osei Bonsu, a player in the fashion industry also criticized the pageant saying that “it had lost its glamour”.

“The whole show has lost its glamour! The MC is a football commentator. The deejay is from Lidos. The ladies were not trained for catwalk and public speaking. The stage is ratchet. The crowd is jam packed. 

This is not becoming of Kenya. These Ladies will be working with the County Governors and meeting international guests. It’s embarrassing to say the least,” he said.

SUPREMACY BATTLES

Thomas Oyolo aka professor Eshuya, who had allegedly been contracted to MC at the event, also weighed into the criticism and barred the inefficiency demonstrated by the organizers of the event.

“The “protocal” event organizer & MTK” it was like they were not in sync, it’s like three separate programs, we were like getting orders from all corners,” he said.

So, yes, some of hon. Members were trying to show the county boss that they can do better, they didn’t allow the Event organizer Mr. Wilson & Bright to do their job as expected of them

Wilson Malaba, a consultant with Universal Real Concepts, which was partly involved in the Miss Tourism county events, said that despite the many challenges faced, the Vihiga event ended well with the crowning of Winnie.

“The finals held in Vihiga, were handled by the county government & a local company by the name, House of Funk led by Ade. The hiring of personnel, artists, Set-up, Mcees, and DJs was their responsibility despite my advice as a consultant. The marketing on Tv, Radio & newspapers was my call. Bringing together industry players and dignitaries was my work,” he said.

CONFLICTING INTERESTS

Tony Chirah bares the rot and the conflict of interest from the competing parties in the pageants saying that in 2013, for instance, there was confusion in the counties over the Miss World and Miss Tourism Kenya beauty pageants that saw counties left without funds to support the latter, forcing the MTK the 2014 contest ran into early 2015 with winners crowned Miss Tourism Kenya 2014.

“There were no funds too to do a national MTK 2015, though some Counties like Tharaka Nithi had gone ahead anyway even without a National pageant and got a winner crowned 2015. This year, they had a 2016 delegate. Some Counties therefore carried forward the 2014 delegates to 2016” Tony said, citing that the issue of “carrying forward models from 2014 to compete with new kids in the block in 2016 was to blame for the huge disparities witnessed among the models.

“Kajiado’s Sation Parmuat, Trans Nzoia’s Fantey Chebet and Homa Bay’s Wendy Bella Omollo (Crowned Sunday 19th June 2016 Miss Tourism Kenya 2016) are among the 2014 ‘carrying forwards’.

That is why there were visible disparities in the levels of performance between the very green 2016 newbies and the veteran 2014 ‘carry forwards’.

MISS KENYA IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS

Tony Chirah also reveals that Miss Kenya pageant is in a financial crisis and will not be holding two of their foreign franchises apart from Miss Earth. Dr. Nyamu may therefore be forced to hand pick a representative for Kenya, perhaps from past contestants.