Twenty six year-old Ms Judy Nzeki was last week crowned as the Miss Face of Kenya USA.
The Psychology graduate from Machakos was orphaned as a child and got an scholarship in United States through Tumaini international, an organisation that helps the less fortunate.
The Miss Face of Kenya pageantry is held in United States, Germany, France and United Kingdom to reconnect Kenyans in the diaspora with charities in Kenya.
When Ms Nzeki first heard about the Miss Face of Kenya USA pageant from a friend, she was reluctant to participate since strutting the runway was not something she envisioned herself doing.
Ms Judy Nzeki of University in California. PHOTO | COURTESY
However, upon further research, she found that all contestants at pageantry have to raise money for their favourite charities in Kenya. With that, she was sold on the idea.
Ms Nzeki finished her undergraduate studies at Hope International University in California and hopes to join St John Hopkins or University of Southern California this year for Masters in Psychology with an emphasis on Global Leadership.
Her life story impressed the judges and she emerged tops out of the 12 contestants.
She told the judges that she had been with Tumaini International for more than a decade and last year, when many were enjoying their summer vacation traveling around the World, she was back home helping the children of Tumaini.
“I’m overwhelmed with joy, this is not my win this is our win, it is a win to show that regardless of your humble beginnings you can make it,” said Judy after being crowned the winner.
She fundraised more than Sh450,000 for Tumaini International to educate the girl child.
The contestants had four months to fund raise and achieve their goals including promoting Kenya, bringing community cohesion and youth empowerment.
