- To someone who is meeting you for the first time, who is Faith Wambugu?
Faith Wambugu is a London resident, an entrepreneur and a mother to one beautiful girl. Faith relocated
from Kenya in 2016 and is currently a Miss/Mrs. Africa UK 2020/2021 finalist.
- What are your guiding principles in life?
My guiding principles are being sociable and avoiding negativity. I focus positively on how to improve on my past failure.
I believe in giving back to society and uplifting others. I believe in appreciating, praising and complimenting my colleagues, my family and friends on their achievements. - Please take us through your daily routine.
I wake up at 5:00 am, start my day with a word of prayer, make my bed, do exercises for 1 hour, take a shower and then breakfast. I start work from 9:00 am- 1700hrs. I work from home due to Covid 19 pandemic. I take my dinner at 1800hrs while catching up on the current affairs on Television. At 20:00hrs, I catch up with my pageant work and retire to bed at 2200hrs - When it was announced that you are the Miss/Mrs. Africa UK Finalist for 2020/2021, what went through your mind?
I was super excited. I knew I had reached a point of no return, as this was my opportunity to shine and set a good example for Africa UK Pageants with utmost dignity out in the community as I relentlessly pave the way for women behind me. Setting a trend of Culture, decency and Courage, being a pioneer of missmrsafricauk20/21 and once again putting Kenya on the International road map. - What does this great recognition mean to you and the women of Africa?
This great recognition is very fundamental to me. I would like to thank Africa Uk Pageants and Empowerment Programme Founder Yanela Ntlauzana for creating one of a kind platform for women over 30+ that is dispelling the age-long notion that beauty pageants are reserved for less intelligent women with only physical attributes to show by incorporating the wholesomeness (all sizes, shapes, heights, etc.). This platform permits me to voice my choices and opinion, motivates and builds my confidence as I network, connect and work with the missmrsafricauk team, sponsors and women across the globe, as women face challenges in their day to day lives while transforming their lifestyles. The Gender of Equality reminds me that gone are the stereotypes that do not match the individual, bearing the burden of a crown of ideals being placed upon their head diminishing the power of their womanhood to the stigma of unattainable beauty. But instead, showcase true beauty from within and celebrate every woman in her unique femininity - What steps got you to the Miss Africa UK position?
I was introduced to the African UK Pageants and Empowerment Programme by a friend. I filled a questionnaire form and registered. My journey began officially in 2020 with a video introduction that was shared on social media and will continue into 2021 and beyond. This is a journey along with other beautiful, sophisticated women from all over the UK. Once selected, it has been a roller coaster for the finalists, who were coerced to attend virtual workshops and compete on a weekly challenge between our sponsor’s brands. The winner was awarded a gift for motivation and to help them prepare for the journey ahead due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Miss/Mrs. Africa UK is an inaugural beauty contest and is ready to compete alongside other leading brands in the industry. - What have been your greatest challenges being a beauty pageant in a foreign continent?
As a missmrsafricauk2020/2021 finalist, sometimes there’s so much pressure in creating content and meeting the timeline. Being in a foreign country, it’s difficult to get our traditional jewelry and attires all at the same time. The cost of shipping and the timing is so uncertain, the integration, coupled with limited support from friends and family. Our cultural differences; the tonal variation and the celebrating mood of joy, enjoyment, bobbing on the floor and dancing in an African style, is different in a foreign continent. - Your greatest highlights?
Having toiled in a successful Marketing Firm in Kenya and East African countries . Organizing events countrywide and doing great presentations at work. I Mentored Miss Teen Zambia Finalist Grace Nakanyika during her pageant journey. Currently, we are working on her brand, sponsorship, and linking her with product suppliers in Zambia. As a missmrsafricauk2020 Finalist, during the pandemic period my charity work has been giving back to the vulnerable, amongst them a couple who had just relocated from Africa to the united kingdom. Language barrier has been a major obstacle to them and through that, I have managed to encourage, inspire and empower them. From their mental health well being, to the social aspect and financial management throughout the lockdown period. - To that African girl/woman yearning to walk in your footsteps, what is your word of advice to them?
To all African girls/women yearning to walk in my footsteps, I would encourage them to join beauty pageants, and the modelling industry as it’s a career like any other. They should be disciplined, impactful to the community and God-fearing. There are so many opportunities and a vast market for black women across the globe. - What is your greatest inspiration in life?
My greatest inspiration in life is women and girls. I look forward to mentoring young girls/women and uniting African women in the beauty pageant world with an objective and strategy to eradicate dropping out of school, early child marriages and Female Genital Mutilation. This I hope to achieve by instilling responsibilities in their lives. By this, they will become financially stable, independent, oversee their bodies and share responsibilities equally in sustaining their families. I think there are lots of people with family connections but they are still struggling in life. If you’re hard-working and determined, you will make it. That’s the bottom line. Nothing comes easily.
