The much anticipated Miss Rwanda competition is back after a two-year hiatus.

The competition, which has been dodged by financial problems, kicks off this week amid reports that the reigning Miss Rwanda, 24-year-old Grace Bahati, may not be around to hand over the crown when the competition comes to an end in September.

Miss Bahati, who has held the crown for three years since the last competition, is reportedly living in the United States.

Under normal circumstances, a beauty pageant is supposed to reign for one year but for three years, the Miss Rwanda Organising Committee and the Ministry of Culture did not come out to clarify the situation, thus fuelling speculation that Bahati was still Miss Rwanda and expected to behave as one.

However, during a recent press briefing, both the Ministry of Sports and Culture and the Miss Rwanda Organising Committee denied any knowledge of Ms Bahati’s alleged pregnancy. The officials, nonetheless added that if the information were true, new arrangements to hand over the crown would be considered.

“We don’t have any information about Bahati’s pregnancy and she is an adult whom we cannot control, still it would be unfortunate if she is pregnant,” said Protais Mitali, Rwanda’s Minister for Culture and Sports.

Ms Bahati is yet to respond to the reports and whether she will attend the grand finale.

The competition has been dogged by financial problems since 2009, after major organisations and companies showed little interest in funding it.

This year’s event is estimated to cost $294,358 (Rwf180.4 million) and so far $94, 848 (Rwf58million) has been collected from sponsors including the Rwanda Development Board, Bralirwa, Rwanda Development Bank, National Youth Council and the National Agriculture Education Board.

According to Edward Kalisa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the government will commit an unspecified annual budget to the event as well as mobilise potential sponsors to ensure the competition is held every year.

The search for Miss Rwanda is scheduled to kick off in upcountry towns, starting with Southern Province, followed by Western Province on July 21 and Eastern Province on July 28, while in Northern Province; beauty pageant will take place on August 4 and City of Kigali on August 12. The grand finale will take place on September 1 in Kigali.

All provinces in the country will be represented by three contestants (each winner, first and second runners-up), to compete for the crown at the national level.

This year, the Miss Rwanda contest is being organised under the theme “Beauty with Purpose Unifying Rwandan Beauty and Culture.”