Miss Africa Utah steps down, Miss Ethiopia takes her place

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Mariama Wurie, Miss Sierra Leone, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Miss Zimbabwe Winnet Murahwa transfers her sash to the new Miss Africa Utah Muluwerk Hale during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement. At left is Miss Ghana Priscilla Dansowaa Darkwa.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Priscilla Dansowaa Darkw, Miss Ghana, performs her talent, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, takes her victory walk after being crowned Miss Africa Utah, Saturday, March 8, 2014.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
The newly crowned Miss Africa Utah Muluwerk Hale poses for pictures during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
The newly crowned Miss Africa Utah Muluwerk Hale smiles during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Priscilla Dansowaa Darkw, Miss Ghana, performs her talent, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Musabey Dantsira, Miss Rawanda, performs her talent, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, takes her victory walk after being crowned Miss Africa Utah, Saturday, March 8, 2014.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Emmanuella Uzoigwe, Miss Nigeria, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Miss Zimbabwe Winnet Murahwa hugs the new Miss Africa Utah Muluwerk Hale during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement. At left is Miss Ghana Priscilla Dansowaa Darkwa.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

The nine contestants line the stage at Miss Africa Utah Pageant, Saturday, March 8, 2014.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Muluwerk Hale, Miss Ethiopia, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Miss Zimbabwe Winnet Murahwa smiles during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement.

1 of 15

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Mariama Wurie, Miss Sierra Leone, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Miss Zimbabwe Winnet Murahwa transfers her sash to the new Miss Africa Utah Muluwerk Hale during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement. At left is Miss Ghana Priscilla Dansowaa Darkwa. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Priscilla Dansowaa Darkw, Miss Ghana, performs her talent, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, takes her victory walk after being crowned Miss Africa Utah, Saturday, March 8, 2014. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune The newly crowned Miss Africa Utah Muluwerk Hale poses for pictures during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune The newly crowned Miss Africa Utah Muluwerk Hale smiles during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Priscilla Dansowaa Darkw, Miss Ghana, performs her talent, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Musabey Dantsira, Miss Rawanda, performs her talent, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, takes her victory walk after being crowned Miss Africa Utah, Saturday, March 8, 2014. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Emmanuella Uzoigwe, Miss Nigeria, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Miss Zimbabwe Winnet Murahwa hugs the new Miss Africa Utah Muluwerk Hale during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement. At left is Miss Ghana Priscilla Dansowaa Darkwa. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune The nine contestants line the stage at Miss Africa Utah Pageant, Saturday, March 8, 2014. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Muluwerk Hale, Miss Ethiopia, in the Miss Africa Utah Pageant, at the University of Utah Union Ballroom, Saturday, March 8, 2014. one of nine women competing for the title of Miss Africa Utah, sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce Utah in collaboration with the African Student Union of the University of Utah, the pageant is in its fourth year. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Miss Zimbabwe Winnet Murahwa smiles during a crowing ceremony at One World Gifts in Sugar House Saturday March 22, 2014. Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale, became Miss Africa Utah after Winnet Murahwa, Miss Zimbabwe, stepped down. "After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement.

By Sheena McFarland The Salt Lake Tribune

· March 23, 2014 6:53 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Miss Africa Utah reigned in the Beehive State for only about two weeks.

Winnet Murahwa, who entered the March 8 competition as Miss Zimbabwe, beat out eight other contestants to win the African Chamber of Commerce's beauty competition. However, she announced she was stepping down.

"After carefully contemplating on my responsibilities as the queen, I realized that I cannot fulfill all the responsibilities expected of me due to personal reasons," Murahwa said in a statement.

Taking her place is second runner-up Miss Ethiopia, Muluwerk Hale. She was crowned because the first runner-up, Miss Sierra Leone, is moving to Britain.

Miss Africa Utah is expected to make media and public appearances and pursue her platform.

The crowning ceremony was Friday afternoon at One World Gifts in Salt Lake City.

The Miss Africa Utah pageant aims to promote diverse African cultures and help young women earn scholarship money.

"Through the Miss Africa Utah pageant, young African beauties are given the opportunity to share their culture, their pride, their accomplishments, and, above all, the platform they want to pursue," organizers said in a statement.

smcfarland@sltrib.com

Twitter: @sheena5427