Uganda's Namatovu finishes runners up at this year's miss international

Uganda has yet again shone at a global pageant, finishing second runner up at the 59th edition of Miss International that was held at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday afternoon.

In what was a return to a pageant that Uganda last participated in 2009, Evelyn Namatovu Kironde, the Ugandan contestant finished two slots shy of the top crown, finishing as a second runner up behind Mexico's Andrea Toscano and Thailand's Sireethorn Leearamwat.

Namatovu was also crowned as the contestant with the Best swim suit at the event that had contestants from 83 countries and territories which surpassed the previous record of 77 contestants in 2018, hence making this year's edition the biggest turnout in the Miss International pageant history.

This year's edition was themed "Cheer All Women" and Namatovu presented a case of Entrepreneurship and financial inclusion for women in Uganda and Africa.

Continental winners included Liberia's Naomi Nucia Glay who won the Miss International Africa's crown, Maria Jose Barbic from Peru won Miss International America, Elize Joanne de Hong from Netherlands was crowned Miss International Europe, Eunice Raquel Basco from Hawaii was crowned Miss International Oceania while the biggest winner of the day, Leearamwat who was crowned Miss International 2019 was also named Miss International Asia.

Miss International (Miss International Beauty or The International Beauty Pageant) is a Japanese-based international beauty pageant organized by The International Culture Association since 1960. It is one of the biggest and oldest beauty pageants besides Miss World and Miss Universe that are also held annually. It revolves around the motto of Love, Peace and Beauty.