Kenyan netizens have voiced their dissatisfaction with Miss Universe Kenya, Irene Ngendo Mukii’s, performance at the Miss Universe Pageant held in Mexico.
Mukii, who was crowned in a lavish ceremony at Nairobi’s Argyle Grand Hotel, represented Kenya at the international event but faced criticism over both her placement and national costumes.
In the first week of the 2024 Miss Universe Pageant, Mukii ranked among the top seven contestants from Africa and Oceania. However, she still attracted criticism, particularly regarding her outfit choices.
In response to the feedback, Mukii took to Instagram to express her love for Kenyan culture and explained the meaning behind one of her costumes, which featured the faces of prominent Kenyan athletes to celebrate the country’s long-distance running legacy.
In her post, she wrote:
“The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here! Miss Universe Kenya @irene_mukii has made us proud by showcasing our global legacy of marathon greatness and our rich running culture through her phenomenal national costume.”
She continued:
“As the finals are upon us, let’s rally behind @irene_mukii and show the world the unbreakable spirit of Kenya. “
Mukii’s message emphasized the importance of cultural representation and the impact it has on an international stage.
Meanwhile, Kenyans on social media, including digital influencer and lawyer Maureen Waititu, have been outspoken about the controversy. Waititu shared her frustration on Instagram, criticizing the mishandling of Mukii’s national outfit and calling attention to the poor decision-making behind it. She wrote:
“I’m probably a few days late, but I haven’t stopped thinking and wincing in embarrassment about someone somewhere who decided to mess up this Kenyan 🇰🇪 queen’s national outfit in the Miss Universe pageant, as if the Olympic’s outfits were not embarrassing enough .”
She added:
“What went wrong? Yes, I’ve heard that she lost her luggage and therefore had to improvise her outfit, but I am not buying it . Huyu mchezo sio mgeni jijini. I also hear that they messed up the original designer. Whoever is responsible, please do better! She deserved better!”
Maureen’s candid comments have contributed to a broader conversation on social media, with many Kenyans agreeing and calling for greater accountability in supporting their representatives on the global stage.
Some reactions include:
- claire_zammit: “Irene had all the potential in the world. But when I saw this outfit, I could not compare it with what other countries had. It is this outfit that made me know she wouldn’t win.”
- naoomyk: “This is why I question anyone who claims they don’t ‘do’ politics—because politics will affect you, whether you engage with it or not. Bad governance impacts every aspect of life. The presence of mediocrity and weak leadership is why we end up with poorly conceived clothing to represent us on the world stage. It’s truly disappointing!”
- thefashionable_wakili: “While outfits matter, the Miss Universe competition is more than that. Irene was so prepared; she’s the most intentional Queen we’ve had in this country if you followed her journey. There is definitely room for improvement and the MU organization Kenya should look into that, but I wish we could just appreciate Irene for representing us so well. This post is simply distasteful.”
The backlash follows weeks after Mukii’s predecessor, Stacy Michuki, Miss Universe Kenya 2019, tied the knot with her foreign husband.
