For decades, beauty pageants have largely been judged by glamorous evening gowns, dazzling smiles and the coveted crown that ultimately lands on one contestant’s head. But for Ugandan pageantry personality and women’s empowerment advocate Ronah Vivian Kisakye , the crown should be the beginning of a journey-not its destination.
That philosophy came to life over the weekend when she hosted the inaugural Queens Affair 2026 at Kampala Serena Hotel, an event that sought to redefine the role of beauty queens by shifting the conversation from physical beauty to leadership, entrepreneurship and personal growth.
Held under the theme “Beyond the Crown: Women Thriving in Professional, Creative and Business Spaces,” the gathering attracted beauty queens, entrepreneurs, professionals, creatives and policymakers for an evening dedicated to celebrating women making meaningful contributions in their respective fields.
For Kisakye, the event was born out of a desire to challenge long-held stereotypes surrounding pageantry.
“Pageantry has often been viewed as a competition centered around beauty, but a crown represents much more. It symbolizes leadership, service, resilience, purpose and influence,” she said.
She believes many titleholders possess the potential to become influential leaders, entrepreneurs and advocates but often lack the mentorship, exposure and networks needed to transition successfully beyond the pageant stage.
It is that gap that Queens Affair hopes to bridge.
Rather than focusing solely on crowns and titles, the initiative aims to connect young women with accomplished leaders who can equip them with practical skills in business, leadership, advocacy and the creative economy.
The inaugural event featured several notable speakers, among themKenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E. Hon. Ababu Namwamba,who encouraged women to embrace regional partnerships and view East Africa as a shared space for innovation, enterprise and leadership.
Also taking to the stage was Irene T. Kauma , Permanent Secretary in the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Education and Sports, who delivered a keynote address titled Leading Beyond the Crown. She challenged participants to pursue leadership rooted in purpose and to build legacies that extend far beyond their years in pageantry.
Business and leadership mentor Manuela P Mulondo added another dimension to the discussions, urging participants to discover their purpose and use their talents to create positive change within their communities.
One of the evening’s defining moments came with the unveiling of theEmpower Her Initiative , a mentorship programme designed to nurture young girls in the pageantry industry into confident leaders, professionals and changemakers.
According to Kisakye, the programme will not end with a single annual event.
Instead, it is envisioned as a long-term movement that will continue through mentorship programmes, leadership forums, networking opportunities, business masterclasses and community outreach initiatives aimed at empowering women across Uganda and the wider region.
Her vision reflects a broader shift taking place within modern pageantry, where beauty queens are increasingly expected to become advocates for social change rather than simply ambassadors of fashion and elegance.
Across the globe, pageant winners are using their platforms to champion education, mental health, climate action, gender equality and entrepreneurship. Kisakye believes Uganda’s pageantry industry should embrace the same evolution.
For her, true queenship is measured not by the sparkle of a tiara but by the lives one touches after the spotlight fades.
With Queens Affair, she hopes to create a generation of women who understand that while a crown may open doors, it is leadership, service and purpose that ultimately define the legacy they leave behind.