Former Miss Kenya Rachel Marete calls out Miss Universe Organization for racism

Former Miss Kenya Rachel Marete has called out the Miss Universe Organisation for being biased against black contestants.

The 67th Miss Universe 2018 pageant was held today Monday 17th December 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand where Miss Philipines Catriona Gray, 24, emerged the winner, taking over from her South African predecessor Demi Leigh Nel-Peters. She become the fourth Filipina to bring home the coveted title. South Africa’s Tamaryn Green was second while Sthefany Gutiérrez was third.

That said our very own Miss Universe Kenya Wabaiya Kariuki, did not make it to the top 20 finalists unlike in 2016 when the Kenyan representative at the time Mary Esther Were came fourth in the global competition. Now, Ms. Marete who represented Kenya on the Miss Universe stage in 2005 is claiming on social media that the Miss Universe Organisation is back to its old ways of being ‘racist’ owing to the fact that whenever the competition is held in Asia, African/ Black contestants don’t do well and instead a biracial contestant is picked.

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In one of her comments on the Miss Universe Kenya Instagram page, Rachel said, “In my year, Miss South Africa was blonde haired and blue eyed. They had the nerve to act like they had picked an African contestant by placing her in the top 15. Only “black” contestant was Miss Trinidad and Tobago who was only half black.”

In an attempt to make her sentiments clear, the former Kenyan contestant to Miss Universe noted, “I ’m sorry to say this but I speak from experience. Whenever the Miss Universe pageant is held in Asia, black contestants never fare well. When they do place they’ll usually pick a biracial/ multiracial contestant. The same thing happened in ‘05 when I competed. Only one biracial contestant made it to the top 15. I really wanted to believe it would go differently this time but I guess the MUO is back to its old ways. Sad. SMH. Thank God it was a top 20 this time. At least they had the decency to place one dark-skinned contestant (kicked off after the first round of course 🤦🏾‍♀️). @wabaiyakariuki you did your best. This was beyond you. I could say so much more but I won’t. Sending much love. At this point, I’m grown. I can speak my mind.”

Miss Universe Kenya 2014, Gaylyne Ayugi supported Rachel’s claims by saying, “MUO picks only bi-racial Africans because I believe to them that’s the much African-ness they can take. Look at the years well, whenever South Africa is a pure black girl they will not place. The moment they send a white or bi-racial girl, they place.”

Both South African titleholders, Miss Universe 2017 Demi Leigh Nel-Peters and Miss Universe 2018 1st runner-up Tamaryn Green are bi-racial.