10 things about Miss Universe DR Congo 2024 Ilda Amani

Ilda Amani Dorcas represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the fourth edition of Miss Africa Calabar and the 73rd edition of Miss Universe. She is the first Miss Universe DR Congo from South Kivu, DR Congo and the ninth beauty queen to represent the country in Miss Universe.

BIOGRAPHY

Amani is a Congolese entrepreneur, activist, model and beauty queen born in Bukavu, South Kivu. She is an alumna of Multitech Business School and the International University of East Africa, which are both in Kampala, Uganda.

On May 15, 2025, Amani turned 27. Here are 10 more things about her:

1. In 2017, she made her runway debut.
2. She was a Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards 2017 model.
3. In 2019, she visited Nigeria.
4. She was a Miss Africa 2019 Calabar finalist.
5. In 2022, she earned her bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Multitech Business School.
6. From 2022 to 2024, she attended the International University of East Africa where she earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration.
7. She was Miss Independence Republique Democratique du Congo 2022 first runner-up.
8. In 2024, she visited the United States and Mexico.
9. She won Miss Universe DR Congo 2024.
10. She was a Miss Universe 2024 candidate.

TIMELINE

As an activist, Amani promotes women empowerment and menstrual health. She and her siblings were raised by a single mother.

2010s

• In October 2017, she walked the runway at the Kampala Fashion Week, which was her first ever fashion show.
• On December 8, 2017, she walked for the Ipogogo House of Fashion and Alecoolandan at the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards 2017 at the Kampala Serena Hotel in Kampala.
• In April 2018, she was photographed by Fabien Mweze.
• On December 27, 2019, she represented the DR Congo at Miss Africa 2019 Calabar and competed against 21 other candidates at the Calabar International Convention Centre in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. She finished in the Top 5.

2020s

• In June 2020, she traveled to Lagos, Nigeria.
• On March 10, 2021, she launched L’Entrepreunariat Congolais au Feminin, a platform that aims to promote the empowerment of Congolese women.
• On August 5, 2021, she visited the Musée National de la Republique Democratique du Congo in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
• On June 30, 2022, she competed against 19 other Miss Independence Republique Democratique du Congo 2022 candidates at 19 Royal Event in Kinshasa. She was runner-up to Carine Rusoke.
• On August 24, 2022, she graduated from Multitech Business School with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting.
• In August 2022, she entered the International University of East Africa
• In October 2022, she visited International Institute of Tropical Agriculture’s station in Kalambo, Bukavu.
• In May 2024, she graduated from the International University of East Africa.
• On August 29, 2024, she competed against 20 other Miss Universe DR Congo 2024 candidates at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Kinshasa and won the title.
• On October 3, 2024, she visited Goma, North Kivu Province, DR Congo where she distributed reusable sanitary strips and talked to the residents about the taboo around menstruation.
• On October 12, 2024, she had a meeting with Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, the wife of DR Congo’s president Felix Tshisekedi.
• From October 24-29, 2024, she stayed in New York City, New York, USA.
• On November 16, 2024, she represented the DR Congo at Miss Universe 2024 and competed against 124 other candidates at the Arena Ciudad de México (Arena CDMX) in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico. She was unplaced.
• On August 22, 2025, she crowned her successor Miss Universe DR Congo 2025 Déborah Djema at the Centre Culturel et Artistique de Kinshasa in Kinshasa.