A woman who is in her 20s and serving two years in prison for child neglect has won the 'coveted' Miss Eldoret Women Prison title.

Mary Muthoni Gathuna, 25, braved a fierce battle to beat 15 other contestants to emerge the best in the annual beauty contest event. The pageant was held at the correctional facility over the weekend.

Muthoni, clad in a long blue dress, pink high heels and an orange strand around her neck, won the hearts of the judges to emerge triumphant in the contest organized by the Vera Beauty College.

“I did not expect to be crowned the winner but I knew I had that special thing in me. I found myself in wrong side of the law due to love issues. I was arrested for not taking care of my child… I have served one year and I still have another year remaining,” she said.

The beauty queen takes over the reins from Rose Chelimo and hopes to use her win to reach out and support teens and other young women to uplift them as well as help them overcome low self-esteem issues.

She says:

“I was in such situation just like them but I want to help them realize that past doesn’t matter. We have to accept who are and strive for a better future. We are here to be corrected so that we become the best citizens in the country.”

See her photos below;