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On July 27, 2026, inside the Victoria Ballroom at the Kampala Serena Hotel, 16-year-old Ugandan pageant icon Favour Murungi Agamba walked away as a double winner at the Queens Affairs Awards, securing both Most Active Queen and Upcoming Young Achiever. This double victory follows her milestone on November 5, 2024, when she was officially crowned Ambassador of United World 2024 in Dubai at the Little Miss and Little Mister United World contest, proving that her transition from an international child ambassador to a regional youth leader is built on real substance, faith, and relentless discipline.
Also read about: Who is Favour Murungi?
How does it feel to win two crowns at a young age?
Talking to Kampala Edge Times about the double crowning that caught many in the ballroom off guard, Favour Murungi kept her focus on purpose rather than getting carried away by the applause.
“I felt so blessed to be awarded and it reminded me what I always tell my mentees. Age is never a limitation and as long as you are determined you can achieve it no matter how long it takes and as long as God is on your side who can take you down,” Murungi shares. What impressed me here is how quickly she redirects the spotlight to her mentees. Most teenagers would be soaking up the personal glory, but she turns a moment of personal victory into a practical lesson for younger kids watching her.
What is Queens’ Affair Uganda?
The Queens’ Affair (officially styled as The Queens’ Affair or Queens Affair) is a high-profile women’s empowerment platform and annual awards event founded by Ugandan pageantry personality and former Miss Tourism Busoga contestant Ronah Vivian Kisakye.
Designed to challenge traditional pageantry norms, the initiative operates under the theme “Beyond the Crown: Women Thriving in Professional, Creative and Business Spaces,” aiming to shift the focus from superficial beauty competitions to long-term female leadership, entrepreneurship, and social advocacy.
At the end of the day, the event morphs into The Queens’ Affair Awards, a celebratory ceremony held at the Kampala Serena Hotel that honors beauty queens, rising young achievers, creative trailblazers, and corporate leaders who are using their public visibility to drive tangible economic and community impact across East Africa.
How would Favour Murungi describe herself today?
When asked to sum up her personality and character in three words, Murungi gets straight to the point.
“Faithful. Fearless. Determined,” she states simply. No long stories or complicated explanations. She knows who she is and sums it up in three distinct words. That level of self-awareness is rare for a 16-year-old dealing with national fame.
What is the Queens Affairs Her Crown Her Power competition?
The Queens Affairs Awards, operating under the theme Her Crown Her Power, was set up to change how pageantry and female leadership are celebrated in East Africa.
“I found out about the awards through social media. Empowering queens beyond beauty was their goal and I knew this was something worth participating in,” Murungi explains. It makes sense why she jumped on this. A lot of pageants just focus on looks and outfits, but she targeted a platform that actually looks at community work and social influence.
Why did Favour Murungi decide to join Queens Affairs?
Stepping into a category where older pageant queens and established influencers were competing required a lot of confidence.
“The awards themselves were about women in leadership, changing the pageant industry and I thought about what I have been doing, and saw this as an opportunity to reach out to the world on a different platform not only because of the votes but it’s because of serving heart and purpose. I encouraged myself to sign up believing God to see me throughout,” Murungi reflects. Instead of waiting for a team or sponsor to push her into the race, she took the initiative herself. That self-starter mindset is what separates casual participants from serious contenders in the media industry.
Did Favour Murungi expect to win two awards at Serena?
Walking into the Kampala Serena Hotel on award night, Murungi knew she was up against tough competition with big online followings.
“The first surprise was to actually be nominated twice in two categories and then winning them both was also a different story because my competitors are also deserving award winning queens and we have all worked in the industry together so whoever won I would be very happy for them. But I’m also glad it was me,” she remarks. That last sentence brings a refreshing dose of honesty. She respects her fellow contestants, but she isn’t pretending she didn’t want the win. That balance of humility and competitive drive is hard to pull off.
What does Beyond the Crown mean in pageantry?
The core theme of the competition, Beyond the Crown, pushed nominees to explain what they bring to the table outside of winning a title.
“Beyond the Crown to me means the impact that I have on others when I’m not wearing a crown. A crown is a symbol of something greater that you are supposed to work in yourself or something that you have been working on yourself behind the scenes,” Murungi notes. I was impressed by how practical her answer is here. A lot of pageant winners treat the crown like a fashion accessory for Instagram pictures, but she views it as work that starts when the makeup comes off.
How do young pageant queens balance school and campaigning?
Handling classwork alongside constant voting drives, public appearances, and social media management is a heavy task for any student.
“Time management is key and basically having a schedule for everything has helped me a lot,” Murungi explains briefly. She keeps it brief, but anyone managing a teenager in the public eye knows it takes serious discipline to keep grades up while running daily voting campaigns.
How did family and friends help Favour Murungi win votes?
Digital voting races in Uganda depend heavily on constant mobilization across family groups, school circles, and online networks.
“They always campaigned on a daily basis reminding everyone to vote in various groups and as creative as they could get. We all did what we could,” Murungi recalls. Behind every successful youth campaign in Uganda is a relentless family WhatsApp network. Her team treated mobilization like a full-time job, keeping her name visible every day.
How do pageant contestants handle voting stress and close races?
Watching numbers shift constantly on online voting portals can easily mess with a contestant’s head.
“Yes, of course every single day I checked the voting site to see what was happening but in all honesty, I know that God has my back and he won’t let me down,” Murungi admits candidly. Admitting she checked the site every day is relatable. Online voting in Uganda can be extremely nerve wracking, especially when numbers shift late at night, but she managed to keep her anxiety in check.
What happens when a pageant voting portal finally closes?
The last few minutes before a voting site shuts down are always tense, filled with late vote dumps and high pressure.
“I first went speechless, then felt like I was finally at peace and then just saw tears running down my eyes, really grateful for all the people who had supported me. That was indeed true love. I felt humbled,” Murungi shares. That raw emotion makes total sense. Weeks of asking people for votes takes a mental toll, and seeing the final numbers brings an overwhelming sense of relief.
What opportunities come with winning Queens Affairs?
Winning a major trophy gives a contestant visibility, but turning that momentum into real progress takes planning.
“Apart from the award and titles in using the platform to expand my initiative and my love for entering into other spaces in the Arts Industry,” Murungi explains. She is already looking at the business side of media and entertainment. Instead of just celebrating the win, she is treating these awards as leverage for future contracts and projects.
Who designed Favour Murungi dress for the Queens Affairs awards?
Walking the red carpet at Serena, Murungi wore a distinct dress featuring shades of pink, purple, and orange.
“My mom is my designer, so she styled the pink dress I was crowned in which represented boldness and a queen character,” Murungi reveals. Having her mother double as her fashion designer gives her a unique edge. It ensures her styling stays age appropriate while still looking bold enough for a high-profile red carpet.
Why did Favour Murungi win Most Active Queen?
The Most Active Queen title targeted the nominee who stayed engaged and consistent throughout the entire competition.
“I felt blessed because at times queens do things to stay relevant but I was glad that I stayed true to myself as one of the Speaker of the event said… Manuela P. Mulondo that you don’t have to do a lot just show up and be who you are,” Murungi reflects. Her point about staying authentic is sharp. Many young creators burn out trying to perform for algorithms, so absorbing advice from veteran speakers like Manuela Mulondo gives her an advantage.
How did Favour Murungi react to winning Upcoming Young Achiever?
Being announced a second time during the ceremony solidified her position as the standout winner of the night.
“I felt overjoyed and thankful to God for giving me all this at a young age and I truly know that the Lord has a lot in store for me and that was a sign that there’s a lotttttt to achieve,” Murungi says. Taking home two distinct honors in a single night sent a clear signal to the industry that her earlier international success in Dubai was no fluke.
Who was the first person Favour Murungi hugged after winning?
Right after receiving her trophies on stage, she didn’t have to look far to celebrate.
“It was my mom and dad. But they were already on the stage with me,” she laughs. A simple, candid moment that shows how closely knit her support system is. Having family right there on stage kept the celebration personal and grounded.
How did Favour Murungi parents react to her double victory?
For Mr. and Mrs. Agamba, seeing their daughter pick up two major awards at Serena was a proud moment.
“They were proud that honestly the Lord has chosen to lift me up for His name to be glorified and for me myself to allow myself to be a vessel of the Lord,” Murungi notes. It is clear where her mindset comes from. Her parents view her public success through a spiritual lens, which helps keep a young achiever levelheaded amidst public praise.
What are Favour Murungi community projects for young people?
Beyond the trophy photos, she is focusing on work that impacts youth at the grassroots level.
“I’m trusting God to enable me to widen my sphere of influence, to achieve the social economic development part of my advocacy. Seeing more youngsters leading meaningful lives and taking on leadership roles is on top of my list,” Murungi emphasizes. Focusing on socio-economic development is an ambitious target for a 16-year-old, but it shows she is thinking about real world impact rather than just superficial charity drives.
What is the biggest lesson Favour Murungi learned on her journey?
Handling public attention and intense competition at her age brings important personal lessons.
“That the Lord has never been done with me and He is still working a good work in me,” Murungi reflects. A thoughtful reflection if you ask me. It shows she understands that winning trophies doesn’t mean she has arrived, but rather that her personal growth is an ongoing process.
What is Favour Murungi next big project and dream?
Instead of slowing down after her victory, she is already planning her next moves.
“I am developing entrepreneural skills, working on personal growth to become the best version of myself as I also focus more on school and my company,” she reveals. Smart move. Shifting focus toward business skills and company ownership shows she understands that pageantry is just a launching pad, not the final destination.
What is Favour Murungi thank you message to her voters?
Closing out her thoughts, she sends a direct message to everyone who backed her campaign. “Everyone who voted and shared my campaign, prayed for me and believed in me thank you. Everything made a difference and these awards belong to you all as much as they do to me. I promise to continue to serve and lead with humility and purpose. God bless you all,” Murungi concludes.
What was the inaugural Queens Affair 2026 at Kampala Serena Hotel?
The inaugural Queens Affair 2026 was held at the Kampala Serena Hotel under the theme “Beyond the Crown: Women Thriving in Professional, Creative and Business Spaces.” Rather than focusing on typical beauty pageant formats like evening gown walk-offs and tiara presentations, the gathering brought together beauty queens, business founders, government officials, and creatives for a practical conversation on turning pageantry visibility into real economic and leadership influence.
The goal was simple: challenge the traditional idea that a beauty queen’s journey ends the moment she is crowned, and instead treat the crown as a launching pad for business, governance, and community advocacy.
Who is Ronah Vivian Kisakye and why did she launch Queens Affair?
The initiative was created and hosted by Ugandan pageantry personality and women’s rights advocate Ronah Vivian Kisakye. Having spent years inside the pageantry ecosystem, Kisakye recognized a persistent problem: many young women win titles or build massive public followings, but once their reign ends, they lack the business networks, mentorship, and professional skills needed to build long-term careers.
“Pageantry has often been viewed as a competition centered around beauty, but a crown represents much more,” Kisakye explained during the event. “It symbolizes leadership, service, resilience, purpose and influence.”
Through Queens Affair, Kisakye is building a bridge to connect young pageant titleholders with established leaders who can guide them in business strategy, policy advocacy, public speaking, and managing personal brands.
Who were the keynote speakers at Queens Affair 2026?
The event featured several prominent guest speakers from across government, diplomacy, and business mentorship:
- Irene T. Kauma: Permanent Secretary in the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Education and Sports, delivered the main keynote address titled “Leading Beyond the Crown.” She challenged young women in the room to build legacies that extend far beyond their pageant titles and focus on purpose-driven public service.
- H.E. Hon. Ababu Namwamba: Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, urged participants to look beyond national borders, view East Africa as a single market for innovation and trade, and build cross-border business partnerships.
- Manuela P. Mulondo: Gender equality advocate, author, and entrepreneur, spoke on self-discovery, advising young women to use their platforms to drive practical community changes rather than chasing online validation.
- Joram Job Muzira: Renowned fashion scout and talent manager, attended alongside Miss Universe finalists, highlighting the growing intersection between professional modeling, global pageantry, and international brand representation.
What is the Empower Her Initiative launched at the Serena Hotel?
One of the main highlights of the evening was the official unveiling of the Empower Her Initiative, a structured mentorship program designed specifically for young women navigating the pageantry and creative industries.
According to Kisakye, Queens Affair will not remain a one-off annual red-carpet dinner. Instead, the Empower Her Initiative will run year-round through:
- Practical business masterclasses and financial literacy workshops.
- Direct mentorship pairing young pageant titleholders with corporate executives.
- Regular leadership forums and networking events.
- Community outreach programs across Uganda and the broader East African region.
How is Ugandan pageantry shifting beyond fashion and beauty?
The launch of Queens Affair highlights a broader global evolution in the pageantry industry. Today, international pageants prioritize contestants who lead social initiatives, run businesses, or advocate for policy reforms in health, education, and climate action.
By shifting the focus from superficial aesthetics to professional competence and social impact, initiatives like Queens Affair are redefining what it means to hold a title in Uganda. As Kisakye noted in her closing remarks, the true measure of a queen isn’t the sparkle of her tiara during an award ceremony, but the tangible work she delivers to her community long after the stage lights go down.
