Uganda’s trending queen, Natasha Nyonyozi has won Beauty with a Purpose Africa Award at the 2025 edition of the Miss World competition held in India.
The illustrious Beauty with a Purpose (BWAP) segment of Miss World 2025 wrapped up on a triumphant note in Hyderabad on Monday night when four contestants: Puerto Rico, Uganda, Wales, and Indonesia earned spots in the quarter-finals of the beauty contest. Their success represents a significant moment in the competition as each made a mark with their social impact projects that were newsworthy as well as heartwarming. It was hosted by Sudha Reddy, philanthropist and director of Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd, with an audience that included dignitaries from abroad, royalty, and humanitarian front-runners.
Among the guests were Julia Morley, Chairperson of the Miss World Organisation, state officials like Jayesh Ranjan, and royal figures including Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad of Baroda, Princess Krishna Kumari of Jodhpur, and Kunwarani Ritu Ajatashatru Singh of Jammu and Kashmir. From 108 contestants representing countries around the world, four emerged as continental winners of the BWAP segment, an integral and most cherished component of the Miss World pageant that highlights each contestant’s commitment to meaningful, long-term social projects.
According to officials,Natasha received the award after impressing the judges with her presentation on her vision as Miss Uganda and the initiatives she plans to pursue during her one-year reign.
The Nyonyozi Initiative, a initiative that aims to educate people about autism and to work for more inclusion in society. Motivated primarily by her autistic brother, Natasha’s passion project has led exciting conversations around neurodiversity in Uganda. This also makes BWAP something of a repeat success in the region for Uganda, since this is the second win in a row.
Other regional winners of the Beauty with a Purpose award this year include Valeria Perez, Miss Puerto Rico, who represented the Americas and Caribbean; Millie-Mae Adams, Miss Wales, who represented Europe; and Monica Kezia Sembiring, Miss Indonesia, who represented Asia and Oceania.
Beauty with a Purpose is a philanthropic initiative established in 1972, celebrated prior to the Miss World pageant. It honors contestants with the most impactful and meaningful charity projects in their home countries.
Over the years, the initiative has raised over $1 billion for local and international charities, supporting disadvantaged children and communities around the world.