By Our Reporter
Niwamanya Hilary and Nabanoba Vivian emerged the ultimate winners in the Y+ Beauty pageant, which is geared towards ending stigma and discrimination of young people living with HIV/AIDS.
They were announced at a ceremony held on Friday evening at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel where Nabanoba Vivian was crowned Miss Y+ while Niwamanya Hilary was crowned Mr Y+, each walking away with a full year scholarship by Uganda Network of Young People Living with HIV & AIDS (UNYPA).
The winners were selected after impressing a panel of judges with their different showcases that included fashion and talent.
Speaking at the ceremony, Henk Bakker, Ducth Ambassador and Chief guest, extolled contestants for their boldness and encouraged them to continue chasing their dreams.
“It takes enormous courage to get up on this stage, face this crowd and look in the camera and say, ‘I am HIV positive.'” He said. “On this stage, contestants show the world that they are intelligent, funny and beautiful. And also that they want to love and be loved; have a family, be happy and lead a normal life like everyone else despite being HIV positive.”
“You can be anything you want. You can have a career, travel the world, find a partner, love and happiness.” He added.