MAQ Modelling Academy is set to host an End-of-Year Brunch to mark the completion of its first year of operations, highlighting developments in model training and industry engagement.
Founded and led by Lucy Irungu, with strategic support from marketing consultant Nadhir Apapu, the academy has introduced an in-house competitive title, Miss Face of MAQ Academy 2026/2027, which will be awarded during the event.
The title is exclusively contested by academy students and focuses on professional development, discipline, and personal branding.
The academy will also announce its acquisition of the Miss Independent International franchise, an international beauty pageant scheduled to take place in Thailand in 2026.
“What motivated me was the gap in how African talent is prepared for global opportunities,” Irungu said. “Training alone is not enough; students need access, credibility, and structured pathways to compete internationally.”
She said owning an international franchise allows global standards and exposure to be brought directly to students.
“It fast-tracks their growth and ensures their skills are respected beyond local borders,” she said.
Irungu added that the impact on students is already visible.
“They gain internationally aligned training, certification, confidence, and visibility,” she said. “It changes their mindset—they stop seeing themselves as local talent and start positioning themselves as global professionals.”
The End-Year Brunch is expected to bring together figures from Kenya’s fashion, media, and modeling sectors, including past Miss World runners-up, Quid Vogue, Poha Media, the Mr & Miss Heritage team, the Mr & Miss Mombasa team, and the Mr & Miss Mombasa team, alongside other industry stakeholders.
By combining structured training, competitive platforms, and international franchise ownership within its first year, the academy seeks to expand Kenya’s pathways to international modelling opportunities.