The race for the AYV Miss University 2026 crown has officially begun, following the unveiling of eight university students who will compete for the coveted title in a pageant focused on beauty, intelligence, confidence, talent and purpose.
The official unveiling ceremony, organised by AYV Media Empire, brought together the contestants, AYV management, pageantry professionals, media practitioners and other stakeholders as the participants were formally introduced to the public.
The contestants represent universities from across Sierra Leone. They include Theresa Josephine Conteh of Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology (EBKUST); Grace Aliyah Bangura and Destiny Imonitie of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Sierra Leone; Winifred Samai and Dudlynette Harding of Fourah Bay College; Tick-Dankay Kamara of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM); Mariama Neneh Kakay of the University of Makeni (UNIMAK); and Vivat Kiyamai Metnhian of Njala University.
Speaking at the ceremony, AYV Managing Director Umaru Fofana said the competition is designed to go beyond physical beauty by providing young women with opportunities to build confidence, develop leadership skills and strengthen their personal brands.
“AYV Miss University is not simply about wearing a crown. It is about discovering young women with purpose, giving them a platform to express themselves and creating opportunities for them to grow. We want every contestant to leave this journey stronger, more confident and better prepared for the future,” Fofana said.
He encouraged the contestants to embrace the experience and use the platform to represent their universities, communities and themselves.
AYV Marketing Director Daniel Moore also welcomed the contestants and urged them to remain open to the opportunities that could emerge from their participation in the competition.
“AYV celebrates young people. AYV looks for young people, and we are glad to be part of making your dreams and your tomorrow what we have always wanted them to be,” Moore said.
He noted that the pageant could provide contestants with opportunities to represent their universities and potentially advance to other beauty competitions beyond Sierra Leone.
AYV General Manager Mariama Ariel Kamara assured the contestants that the competition would be conducted fairly, while announcing that the eventual winner would receive a car, with additional prizes for the first and second runners-up.
“AYV Miss University is going to be a fair pageant. You are all going to get what you deserve,” Kamara said.
Meanwhile, pageantry expert and Chief Executive Officer of Hawawa Modeling Agency, Hawawa Turay, encouraged the contestants to focus on making an impact rather than concentrating solely on physical beauty.
Turay said modern pageantry should identify young women who understand who they are, have clear aspirations and are prepared to use their platforms to serve as ambassadors.
With the eight contestants now officially unveiled, the AYV Miss University 2026 journey has entered its next phase. The participants are expected to take part in competition activities, mentorship sessions, media engagements and other programmes leading up to the crowning of the next Miss University.
