“Is your crown straight?” One more small check, before yet another interview. But no detail should be missed now that Kenza Ameloot has been crowned Miss Belgium. The 21-year-old from East Flanders proved to be the fastest on stage. During question time it became clear that she also had something to say about the content. That she is proud of her Rwandan roots. Her mother survived the genocide there. (Read more below the photos)
© Carlo Coppejans
© Carlo Coppejans
She was also there, together with the whole family in the Proximus Theater in De Panne. She watched her daughter on stage with a beaming look. Kenza herself immediately got to work like a Miss should, with naturalness and flair. Like she gave interviews every day.
“I feel great, I’m super happy,” she says. “Why did people choose me as Miss Belgium? I really couldn’t say. All the girls here have so many qualities. I didn’t expect it at all. You never know what’s going to happen. How much a girl can excel on the show.”
Focus on youth
She was the tallest candidate this year at 1 meter 78 and, in addition to her studies in International Business, she also works as a model. Her biggest goal as Miss Belgium is now to focus on youth. Because she was very closed off as a child, she fell behind in learning. That’s why she’s determined to help there. “Psychological help is so important. Young people are quickly put into boxes or downgraded. I hope that one day I can say that I was really able to make a difference there.” (Read more below the photos)
Kenza with her boyfriend just after the coronation. — © Carlo Coppejans
Kenza with her mom — © Carlo Coppejans
Her father is Belgian, but she certainly wants to proudly convey her roots from Rwanda as Miss. “I really want to embrace it and be proud of it. I also want to show that even if you don’t have 100 percent Belgian blood, I am still a real Belgian.”
READ ALSO. Trans woman Lennie takes part in Miss Belgium: “When dating, many men do not consider me as a woman”
According to Kenza, the whole week has flown by, but now the real work begins. “You have to ask Darline about the planning,” she says with a laugh. “But I hope that I can go to Cambodia (where Miss Belgium supports a school, ed.) and that I can experience Miss Universe. That really is a childhood dream of mine.”
And she will certainly receive support from her entire family. “I actually didn’t want to see mom sitting in the audience because it would cause me a lot of stress, but my boyfriend is a big man. So I immediately saw them from afar. (laughs) But I’m very happy that she was able to experience this. They are all very proud of me. We’ll have to have a real conversation later. When I saw them just after the coronation, there was only one thing I could do: cry, cry, cry.”
Emily Vansteenkiste about her successor: “Charisma and charisma have come across”
© Carlo Coppejans
“I thought it wasn’t going to be too bad, being an ex-Miss Belgium from now on. Until we were ready backstage with the ribbons. Then I shed a tear.”
“I’m super happy for Kenza though. She’s going to do really well. She is a deserved winner. She is a model, is super beautiful and she can speak all languages. I think her charisma and appearance on stage came across to the audience, and she is also very loved by the girls.”
“Do I have any tips? Above all, stay yourself, and it’s a bit of go-with-the-flow. I’m sure everything will turn out fine.”
“I became self-employed from twelve o’clock at night, and I’m starting to do that now. I want to do media work, modeling and influencer work. I hope to be able to act as a presenter too. And in the media, on Wednesday I will appear in ‘De code van Coppens’, so I hope I can participate in more programs, because I really enjoy that.”
Lennie Blockmans: “Immediately after I stepped off stage, I realized that I had more to be happy about than to cry about”
© Carlo Coppejans
Lennie Blockmans (25) was the first trans woman to participate in Miss Belgium. She won the ribbon for Miss Quiz and Miss Sympathy, but she did not advance to the last fifteen. History is not written like this. Initially this also caused disappointment for Lennie. “I absolutely appreciate all the support and high estimates, but immediately after the podium I had the feeling that I was able to do a few more important things here than take the crown.”
“Kenza deserves it. She was my favorite too. I mainly participated to make a statement. That worked, and I’m very happy with what I achieved. The personal victory is enormous. I have more things to laugh about than to cry about right now.”
“Now, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be one or that I’m not disappointed now. In any case, I saw myself with that crown heading to Miss Universe for the next round. But I will say it: I am very proud of myself, and I am very happy with what I have done.”
She finds it quite funny that she now carries the title of Miss Quiz. But she especially thinks Miss Sympathy is one to cherish. “That really means a lot to me. When a group of 32 girls, who did not know each other before, collectively decide: we like you? I find that – yes – sympathetic.”
Lennie also received a lot of harsh and mean comments. Is there any relief in that regard? “A little bit,” she says honestly. “But I had worked out the two possible scenarios in my head in advance, and had to be completely okay with that in both cases. Now I don’t have to worry about stress, I can focus on myself and do my own things. So I also see the good in the situation.”
