Singapore’s representative Kenny Santika won the title of Mrs. Charity at the Mrs. Universe 2011 pageant held in Bulgaria.
Contributed By Terence JR Lee
Two weeks ago, Kenny Santika was awarded the title of Mrs. Charity at the Mrs. Universe pageant in Bulgaria. The award is given to the delegate who is actively involved in, and has incorporated charity work into her lifestyle. The beauty queen actively volunteers with CityCare, Hope Community Services Centre, as well as other charitable organizations.
“I personally support the cause of the underprivileged who need care, especially children and the elderly,” explains Santika, 39. “As Mrs. Charity 2011, I hope to reach out to companies and the larger community, to get them involved in contributing back to society.”
The week-long pageant, held from Aug. 20 to 27, was held in the tourist destination of Kaylaka, a small town near Pleven city in northern Bulgaria. There, delegates did more than compete for the crown; they discussed and shared ways to further the Mrs. Universe pageant’s long-running cause of eradicating domestic violence.
“There was a round table discussion on domestic violence [aimed at] exchanging information about the specific characteristics of the problem in different countries, and the variety of practices to overcome the problem,” Santika explains.
Apart from the round table discussion, delegates also got to learn more about their host country. Santika describes, “I traveled to different historic places in Pleven, met the local people, learned a bit about Bulgarian culture by tasting their food and wine, and enjoyed the lovely landscapes and natural beauty there.”
The pageant also served as a cultural exchange: delegates shared each of their national costumes, dance, music, cuisine and traditions at the Day of Nations.
“It was a great experience,” says Santika. “Best of all, I got to make friends with people from so many different countries.”
The Mrs. Universe pageant requires that women be between 25 and 45 years of age, be married, and emphasizes not just beauty, but also active involvement for significant causes in their communities. This year, 22 delegates from all around the world participated in the pageant, with Mrs. Venezuela, Mayra Farmas, winning the crown.