Introduction
Kenza Johanna Ameloot is a Belgium-Rwandan model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Belgium 2024 on February 24, 2024. Kenza Ameloot is the first woman of African descent to win the title in the history of the pageant. She will represent Belgium at the Miss Universe 2024 contest later this year.
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Family Background of Kenza Ameloot
Kenza Ameloot was born on June 15, 2002, in Sint-Amandsberg, a suburb of Ghent, East Flanders. She is the daughter of Johan Ameloot, a Belgian engineer, and Marie-Claire Uwamahoro, a Rwandan nurse. Her parents met in Rwanda in 1994, when Johan was working for a humanitarian organization during the genocide. They fell in love and got married, and moved to Belgium in 1996.
Kenza has two older brothers, Kevin and Karel, who are also engineers. She grew up in a multicultural and bilingual family, speaking both Dutch and Kinyarwanda at home. She also learned French and English at school. She is proud of her mixed heritage and considers herself a citizen of the world.
Academic Achievements
Kenza Ameloot was always a bright and curious student, who excelled in both science and arts. She attended the Sint-Bavo Humaniora, a prestigious secondary school in Ghent, where she graduated with honors in 2020. She was particularly interested in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, and participated in several national and international science fairs and competitions.
She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in international business at the Ghent University, where she is in her third year. She chose this field of study because she wanted to learn more about the global economy, trade, and entrepreneurship. She hopes to start her own business someday, or work for a multinational company.
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Extracurricular Activities
Besides her academic pursuits, Kenza Ameloot is also passionate about modeling, fashion, and beauty. She started modeling at the age of 16, after being scouted by a local agency. She has since worked with several brands and designers, both in Belgium and abroad. She enjoys expressing herself through her style and appearance, and loves to experiment with different looks and trends.
She is also an avid reader, writer, and traveler. She likes to read books from different genres and cultures, and write her own stories and poems. She has a blog where she shares her thoughts and experiences on various topics, such as education, feminism, diversity, and social justice. She enjoys traveling to different destinations and experiencing new cultures. She has visited over 20 countries so far, and plans to visit more in the future.
Miss Belgium Journey
Kenza Ameloot decided to enter the Miss Belgium pageant in 2023, after being encouraged by her friends and family. She saw it as an opportunity to challenge herself, showcase her talents, and represent her country. She competed in the East Flanders regional final, where she was selected as one of the 32 finalists for the national pageant.
She underwent several weeks of training and preparation, along with the other finalists, before the grand finale on February 24, 2024, at the Plopsaland Theater in De Panne. She impressed the judges and the audience with her intelligence, confidence, and charisma, and won the crown and the sash of Miss Belgium 2024. She also won the Miss Elegance and Miss Social Media awards.
She was congratulated by her predecessor, Emilie Vansteenkiste, who crowned her as the new Miss Belgium. She also received warm messages from her family, friends, and fans, as well as from the Rwandan community in Belgium and Rwanda. She expressed her gratitude and happiness, and said that she was honored and humbled to be the first woman of African descent to win the title. She also said that she was looking forward to representing Belgium at the Miss Universe 2024 contest, and hoped to make her country proud.
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Future Plans and Goals
As the new Miss Belgium, Kenza Ameloot hopes to use her platform to raise awareness and funds for various social and humanitarian projects, both in Belgium and abroad. She is particularly interested in supporting the development of Rwanda, her mother’s homeland, which has suffered from the genocide and the poverty. She wants to promote the culture, the tourism, and the entrepreneurship of the country, and to inspire the young generation to pursue their dreams.
She is also looking forward to representing Belgium at the international stage, where she will compete with other beautiful and talented women from around the world. She is confident that she has what it takes to make her country proud, and to bring home the coveted Miss Universe crown. She believes that beauty is not only about the physical appearance, but also about the personality, the values, and the actions. She wants to show the world that she is not only a pretty face, but also a smart, kind, and compassionate woman, who is ready to make a difference.
Kenza Ameloot is a remarkable young woman, who has achieved a lot in her life, and who has a bright future ahead of her. She is a perfect example of the modern and diverse beauty of Belgium, and a worthy representative of the nation. She is a true inspiration for many people, especially for the girls and women who share her background and aspirations. She is the new Miss Belgium 2024, and she is ready to conquer the world.
Social and charity work
Kenza Ameloot has been involved in several social and charity projects, both in Belgium and in Rwanda. Some of them are:
- Supporting the Rwandan diaspora in Belgium: Kenza is proud of her Rwandan roots and wants to help the Rwandan community in Belgium to integrate and thrive. She has joined the Rwandan Diaspora Association of Belgium (RDAB), which organizes cultural, educational, and social events for Rwandans living in Belgium. She also plans to visit Rwanda and learn more about her mother’s country and culture.
- Promoting education and empowerment for the youth: Kenza believes that education is the key to success and empowerment for the young generation. She has volunteered as a tutor and mentor for children and teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them with their homework and personal development. She also wants to raise awareness and funds for organizations that support education and empowerment for the youth, such as UNICEF and Plan International.
- Advocating for diversity and inclusion: Kenza is a role model for diversity and inclusion, as she represents a blend of cultural identities and backgrounds. She wants to use her platform as Miss Belgium to celebrate and promote diversity and inclusion in society, especially in the beauty and fashion industry. She hopes to inspire other girls and women to embrace their uniqueness and pursue their dreams.
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Conclusion
Kenza Johanna Ameloot is more than just a pretty face. She is a young woman with a big heart and a bright mind, who is using her voice and influence to make a difference in the world. She is an example of how beauty, brains, and compassion can go hand in hand. She is a true Miss Belgium.