Get Guardian on GoogleFor Tanzanian beauty queen Eve Godwin Mkini, winning Miss Africa International 2026 is more than a personal achievement. It is an opportunity to tell a different African story.
With a platform that places her at the centre of continental representation, Mkini wants to draw attention to Africa’s cultural wealth, tourism potential, creativity and the talents of its people.
The newly crowned queen believes the continent has much more to offer than the challenges that often dominate international conversations about Africa.
“Africa is rich in culture, history, talent and natural beauty, but I believe there is still so much the world needs to discover about us,” she said.
Mkini, who hails from Tanzania, said she was particularly interested in using her position to promote African traditions and encourage younger generations to see their cultural heritage as an asset rather than something to abandon.
Central to this ambition is her Heritage to Future project, an initiative through which she hopes to connect cultural knowledge with opportunities for young people.
She explained that the project would encourage young people to discover the value of their cultural skills and explore ways of developing them into meaningful opportunities.
For Mkini, preserving heritage should not be limited to celebrating traditional practices. It should also involve creating ways for communities and younger generations to benefit from the knowledge passed down through generations.
Her ambition is to take the project beyond Tanzania by engaging communities in other African countries.
The beauty queen said her interest in cultural promotion was also linked to her desire to change how the continent is perceived internationally.
She wants the world to recognise Africa for its creativity, strength, diversity and possibilities, rather than viewing it exclusively through the lens of its difficulties.
“I want the world to see Africa not only for its challenges, but also for its beauty, creativity, strength and endless possibilities,” she said.
Her victory, she added, comes with the responsibility of representing more than her country.
Being Miss Africa International means having an opportunity to celebrate the different identities, traditions and contributions that make up the continent.
Although her journey into modelling initially provided an avenue for self-expression and confidence-building, she said pageantry eventually introduced her to the possibility of using a public platform for social impact.
As she begins her reign, Mkini hopes her work will encourage young Africans to appreciate where they come from while building opportunities for the future.
