The journey of Hannah Karema from a small Ugandan village to being bestowed the honour of representing her country on the international stage is an inspiration to many young dreamers. Hannah’s story is one of resilience and determination which has not only won her a spot on the global stage but also marked a significant moment for Uganda in the Miss World competition.
Winner of Miss Uganda 2023/24, Hannah could make history this month at the ongoing Miss World event in India. As we await for her performance in the Finals, walk with us as we take you through Hannah’s journey from a humble Ugandan village to the global stage.
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Emerging From Adversity In Nakaseke
Hannah Karema’s journey from a small village in Uganda to the global stage is a testament to the power of dreams and heights young people can reach if they work hard and believe in themselves. Photo/ Pulse Uganda.
To start with, Hannah Karema was born in Nakaseke district in 1998. She attended Seroma Christian High School and Hana Mixed International School before proceeding to Makerere University.
Her journey from Nakaseke to the big stage was not an easy one as she had to overcome numerous challenges faced by young girls growing up in the district. Hannah emerged from the shadows of cultural norms and the looming threat of early marriage, which is a prevalent practice in her community, to choose a different narrative.
Luckily, she had the support of her family and since she understood the transformative potential of education, she used it as a key to break free from the difficulties faced by young girls in Uganda.
Hannah is using the spotlight on her to fight against child marriages and fervently promote education as a powerful path to a brighter future for the youth. She recently launched a football tournament championing her “My Miss World Journey” campaign, taking a stand against child marriages.
“Through sports and education, we can break barriers and empower young minds to believe in their dreams. I’m honored to be part of this tournament that not only celebrates football but also fosters unity and fights against harmful practices like child marriages.” Hannah said after launching the Hannah Karema Football Tournament last year, as per Kawowo Sports.
Winning Miss Uganda
Hannah Karema was crowned Miss Uganda 2023 on 18 March at UMA Multipurpose Hall in Kampala. Miss Uganda had last been held in 2021 and returned with a new winner replacing Elizabeth Bagaya, who won the title in 2021.
Hannah Karema was crowned Miss Uganda 2023/24 in March 2023. Photo/ Exclusive Bizz.
In 2023, over 20 finalists battled out for the prestigious crown which was eventually won by Hannah. After her crowning, Hannah received a special homecoming in her hometown as people gathered with excitement to congratulate her. To mark her victory, a road in her hometown of Kinoni was named after her.
The homecoming was also used to promote education as five acres of land were donated to build a secondary school. Hannah said after her triumph that she hopes to use her time at the helm to advocate against forced early marriages.
Hannah Karema At The Miss World Finals
Hannah is making waves at the prestigious Miss World event in Mumbai, India. Since the Finals began, Hannah has been nothing short of exceptional and is making Ugandans proud with her unwavering dedication, intelligence and charisma at the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant.
Hannah excelled in various segments of the competition, including winning the head-to-head challenge. She has secured a spot in the Top 10 finalists of the “Beauty with a Purpose” segment.
The 24-year-old believes she will bring the Miss World crown back home saying “To men it’s impossible, but to God everything is possible” before travelling to India.
Hannah Karema is one of the contestants from 120 countries taking part in this year’s Miss World contest in India. Photo/ Capital FM.
What Is Miss World?
Established in 1951, Miss World stands as the oldest existing international beauty pageant in the world. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley who passed away in 2000. Morley’s widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant since his death.
Miss World, which is franchised in more than 100 countries, is one of the Big Four beauty pageants alongside Miss Earth, Miss International and Miss Universe. The Miss World organisation has managed to raise over £1 billion for children’s charities over the years that have helped disabled and underprivileged children.
