In 2025, Rwanda made history: for the first time ever, a woman of Rwandan origin stepped onto the global stage at the Miss Universe pageant. That woman is Solange Tuyishime Keita, a leader, humanitarian, and trailblazer whose life story transcends conventional ideas of beauty and purpose.
A Proud Heritage and Bold Ambition
Solange was born in Rwanda, and though her life has carried her far from her birthplace, she has always carried her heritage with pride. Representing Rwanda at Miss Universe is not just a personal milestone, it’s a national one, placing her country on a global pageantry map for the first time.
At 44, she’s competing in an era when Miss Universe has relaxed age restrictions, allowing her to show that beauty and experience don’t have an expiration date.
She herself frames her journey with a powerful mantra: “Imyaka ni imibare” (“Age is just a number”).
From Humble Beginnings to Big Dreams
Solange’s journey into pageantry began unconventionally. In 2004, she entered her first pageant wearing a $20 dress from Walmart.
Yet rather than being defined by what she lacked, she used that moment to launch a path of visibility, leadership, and service. She won Miss New Brunswick becoming the first Black woman to hold that title and later claimed the Miss Canada International crown.
More than just a pageant queen, Solange is deeply invested in giving back. She used her first pageant scholarship to complete a Master’s in Public Administration, channeling her energies into a lifetime of service.
Leadership, Advocacy, and Impact
Today, Solange serves as the President and CEO of Elevate International, an organization she founded to empower women and girls across the world. She is also a UNICEF Canada Ambassador, working tirelessly to give voice and support to vulnerable children and women.
Over the years, her philanthropic efforts have moved mountains: she has helped raise more than $3.4 million, positively impacting 2.3 million women and children, and helped provide clean water access to over 4.3 million households.
Through her platform, she is reshaping what pageantry can be: not just a celebration of beauty, but a vehicle for social change.
Redefining Beauty, Redesigning Leadership
Solange’s participation in Miss Universe represents more than personal ambition, it’s a statement. She is advocating for a broader, more inclusive definition of beauty, one rooted in experience, empathy, and leadership. On her Miss Universe profile, she emphasizes her commitment to “elevating women and girls” by sharing her story, mentoring others, and partnering with global organizations.
She sees her journey as a calling: to inspire women especially those who feel limited by age or circumstance by showing that their dreams are still valid.
A Touch of the Personal
Beyond the stage, Solange is a mother of four.
Her life experience as a parent, a leader, and a philanthropist gives her a multifaceted perspective on what it means to lead with heart. She also enjoys reconnecting with her Rwandan roots in small, meaningful ways for example, through baking traditional treats like doughnuts and bread.
And even on the high-stakes Miss Universe stage, she remains refreshingly human. In a viral moment, she was captured dozing off during a late-night event but she recovered with grace and warmth, reminding audiences that behind every crown is a real person with real emotions.
Why Her Story Matters
Representation: As Rwanda’s first-ever Miss Universe contestant, Solange is opening doors for other Rwandan women to dream bigger.
Inclusivity: By competing at 44, she challenges outdated norms about age and beauty.
Purpose-Driven Platform: Her work with Elevate International and UNICEF demonstrates how pageantry can be a force for good.
Inspiration: Her journey encourages women especially older or marginalized ones to believe in their power to lead, to heal, and to uplift.
Solange Tuyishime Keita’s path to Miss Universe isn’t just about a crown. It’s about hope, vision, and transformation. As she carries the flag of Rwanda on one of the world’s biggest stages, she does more than compete, she inspires, she uplifts, and she redefines what it means to be a beauty queen. Her journey is a reminder that real beauty is not just seen, but lived through leadership, compassion, and relentless purpose.
Brenna AKARABO
RADIOTV10
