Shubila Stanton, Lilian Maraule

Shubila Stanton, 23, will represent Tanzania in Miss Universe 2019. She is the 12th woman to represent the country in the international beauty pageant run by the Miss Universe Organization, which is currently owned by the WME/IMG talent agency.

Stanton hails from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The city is home to the Mbudya Island, the Bongoyo Island, the Kunduchi Wet ‘N’ Wild Water Park, the Kivukoni Fish Market, the Mwenge Woodcarvers Market, the Oyster Bay and the Coco Beach.

On October 12, 2019, Stanton was crowned Miss Universe Tanzania 2019 at Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam. She bested nine other finalists namely Mary Mponya, 25, Laura James, 20, Precious Lyimo, 23, Rachel Robert, 21, Glory Gideon, 24, Elverenta Reubben, 22, Lilian Mlolere, 23, Sarafina Wasley, 25, and Prisca Richard, 23.

Lyimo, Wasley, Gideon and Reuben made it to the Top 5. They are all from Dar es Salaam.

“I am happy to win this title,” The Citizen quoted Stanton as saying. “My dream has come true and now I am focusing on how to bring honor to Tanzania. All contestants deserved the crown but my natural beauty, confidence and intelligence made me win the top prize.”

Originally from Morogoro, Stanton represented Dar es Salaam in Miss Universe Tanzania 2019. She is the reigning Miss Morogoro 2019.

No Miss Universe Tanzania beauty pageant was held in 2018. It was the most recent titleholder Lilian Maraule who crowned Stanton as Tanzania’s representative to Miss Universe 2019.

Maraule did not place in Miss Universe 2017, which culminated at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on November 26, 2017. The crown went to Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, 24, of South Africa.

In 2007, Flaviana Matata, 32, became the first woman to represent Tanzania in Miss Universe. She finished in the Top 10.

After Matata, all of the 10 representatives of Tanzania to Miss Universe did not place. Stanton is now set to break the losing streak.

Catriona Gray, 25, of the Philippines is the reigning Miss Universe 2018. She is the fourth Miss Universe from her country and the 67th woman to hold the title.

The reigning Miss Universe Tanzania 2019 is a model and a university student. She is studying Environmental Science and Management.