The Belgian-Rwandan beauty queen will join celebrities and global figures as a special gorilla namer at Rwanda’s major conservation event.
MUSANZE, Rwanda — Miss Belgium 2024 Kenza Ameloot has arrived in Rwanda ahead of the 21st Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla naming ceremony taking place on Friday, September 4, 2026, in Kinigi, Musanze District.
Ameloot will be among the special guests invited to name a baby mountain gorilla during the ceremony. Her visit is also a special homecoming because her mother, Joselyne Gakire, is Rwandan, while her father is Belgian.
Although Ameloot grew up in Belgium, she has maintained a strong connection to Rwanda. She regularly visited family in the country during her childhood and has spoken about embracing both sides of her background.
Beyond beauty pageants, Ameloot is also involved in humanitarian work. Through her partnership with Light for the World, she supports efforts to fight preventable blindness among children in Rwanda. She has also visited the Kabgayi Referral Eye Care Centre and witnessed eye surgeries as part of her advocacy.
Kwita Izina has been held since 2005 and has grown into a major international conservation event. It celebrates Rwanda’s efforts to protect mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park while bringing together celebrities, leaders and conservation supporters from around the world.
For Ameloot, taking part in the ceremony brings together her connection to Rwanda and her passion for making a positive difference, making her appearance at this year’s Kwita Izina a meaningful homecoming.
