Kenyan youth advocate Vanessa Handas will represent the country at the ninth edition of the Miss Africa Golden beauty pageant in Ghana next month.
The international pageant will be held in Accra from November 16 to 23, 2026, bringing together contestants from 22 African countries to celebrate Black identity, African heritage, culture and tourism.
According to the organisers, Miss Africa Golden goes beyond beauty, providing a platform for culture, talent, leadership and social impact, while giving contestants an opportunity to serve as cultural ambassadors for their countries.
Handas hopes to use the platform to promote her work in youth empowerment. She has been appearing on various shows to discuss her mission of helping young people develop etiquette, manners and fashion skills.
Her participation comes as the pageant rolls out its “Country Power Voting” system, launched on October 11, as preparations continue ahead of the contestants’ arrival in Ghana.
Under the system, the contestant who receives the highest number of public votes will automatically secure a place in the top three finalists. The grand finale is scheduled for November 23.
Handas is calling on Kenyans to vote for her online, saying public support could help her reach the finals and give her a stronger platform to showcase Kenya’s cultural heritage.
The competition is expected to feature contestants presenting their cultures, talents, personal projects and visions for change.
Previous editions of Miss Africa Golden have featured national costumes, traditional dances and social impact projects, highlighting the continent’s cultural diversity.
The winner of Miss Africa Golden 2026 will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Phuket, Thailand, to represent Africa at the Miss Ocean Africa 2027 pageant.
For Handas, the opportunity is not just about winning a crown. It is also a chance to raise awareness about youth empowerment and demonstrate that young Kenyans can compete confidently on international platforms.
She is expected to join fellow contestants in Ghana for rehearsals, cultural activities and other pageant events ahead of the final night.
Kenyans wishing to support her can vote online as the countdown to the November competition continues.
If she wins, Handas will advance to the international stage in Thailand, where she will represent Africa at Miss Ocean Africa 2027.