Of being fearless in this hard knock world.

"Hard Knock World - To live in a situation that is difficult, where the elements of the world seem to be against you all the time."


I read somewhere on social media that people will be riding this Miss Uganda 2014 wave till February next year. It is not yet February so, yes I am still allowed to write about Kalanguka Leah, Miss Uganda 2014.

Every single time I read a comment criticizing Kalanguka Leah (Miss Uganda 2014), I died so many slow painful deaths on the inside. People just kept taking us back several centuries. I learned a long time ago that it is a hard knock world. It can be cruel, when you don't fall into this category or stereotype, of what is socially accepted as beautiful. Kalanguka Leah stood against all these stereotypes. She beat the odds, instead of applauding her, we tried to claw and drag her back to the bottom. Sigh, it is a hard knock world.  This is not a rant for all the clueless and ignorant people who bashed Kalanguka Leah. This is me applauding Leah for being fearless.

The back lash from Kalanguka Leah's win, was just a harsh reminder that society is hateful, cruel and messed up. I cringe at the thought of bringing a child into this insane world. A world that will tell my child that they can't follow their dreams because they don't fit into this box, because they ain't skinny or have porcelain light skin. We grow up in a society that tells us that if we are not made a certain way then we shouldn't have any dreams. A society that unabashedly tells us that our dreams are not valid if we do not look like a cover girl. That if we do not look like barbie dolls , then we can not live extraordinary lives. This win is a reminder to everyone that no matter what they look like, their dreams are valid.

"For every little child, No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid- Lupita Nyong'o "

Kalanguka Leah's win is for all those girls who were told they were not beautiful because they did not fit into this box. For all those girls who were told that they need to bleach or use lightening creams because they were "not" as beautiful as their light skin friends.

This win could not have come at a better time. A time when self love in Uganda desperately needed a poster child. We as a country are short of great role models. We need more people like Kalanguka Leah. People who are fearless and are willing to put themselves out there, to stand against the tide. People who are comfortable in their own skin and love themselves fiercely and unapologetically.

Congratulations Kalanguka Leah. In my books, you are up there right next to Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr. You did it with so much grace. Slow clap for you.

Kalanguka Leah, today I celebrate you, I celebrate your beauty, grace and bravery.  Here is to living extraordinary lives, beating the odds and changing the world one beauty pageant at a time.

  Here is to changing the world one beauty pageant at a time, Haters do not interrupt