This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
Wabaiya Kariuki, the 22-year-old who reigned as Miss Universe Kenya for a year, is preparing to exit the glamour world.
Speaking to Pulse magazine, Kariuki revealed her plans to return to her field of study, Actuarial Science.
Her reign as Miss Universe Kenya was a 'roller-coaster of a journey' with great lessons learned, she said.
Despite being a beauty queen, Kariuki's life hasn't changed much. She still does the things she used to do, and those close to her treat her as the same person.
However, she faced challenges in negotiating partnerships and sponsorships due to the lack of interest in beauty queens in Kenya.
One of the highlights of her reign was the Miss Universe main competition in Thailand last December, where she made great friends and had a good time.
She also participated in community service with Smile Train and mental wellness campaigns, which gave her immense joy.
As Miss Universe Kenya, Kariuki was a Goodwill Ambassador for Smile Train and had her own cause, mental health, which she promoted through various outreach activities.
She received support from the pageant holder, who facilitated her travel to Bangkok and provided her with sponsored clothing, shoes, and makeup classes.
Although she hasn't had major deals as Miss Universe, Kariuki is hoping for some in the future.
Looking back, she wishes she had done more research on pageantry, personal branding, and PR before starting her journey.
After her reign, Kariuki plans to get employment in her field of study and eventually start her own business.
She believes that the local modeling industry has a misconception that it's not for smart girls, when in fact, one needs to be intelligent to succeed in it.
On a lighter note, Kariuki described herself in three words: strong, loving, and silly.
