Miss Babelyn Mukila Lynn Cyssy has been crowned Miss Deaf Africa.
The 22-year-old was crowned at the Mr and Miss Deaf International Beauty Pageant in Taiwan, China on Sunday after displaying resilience in the of tough competition that brought together competitors from across the African continent.
Despite her hearing inability, Cyssy Lynn said she is not fazed and and that her condition can neither kill her dream nor put her down. Her modelling dream started when she was in secondary school.
"Even during my childhood days, I wanted to be a beauty queen and just be in the business of modelling," she said through a sign language interpreter before contesting in Vihiga county in June during Miss Tourism pageant.
Mukila competed for the prestigious crown in Mombasa and emerged first runner-up in 2014 but she did not give up.
"When I lost, I knew there is always another time to make it because failure does not define me nor does my inability to hear. I did not give up because my objective was to represent Mombasa, promote tourism and support others like me and eventually be Kenya's tourism ambassador," said the third-born in a family of six.
She also expressed gratitude to all leaders who supported her in Mombasa County, saying: "I have made it through Mombasa County and I cannot forget what my parents, mentors and friends have sacrificed to make it possible for me to be here."
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