16/06/2026
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๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ธ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐
By Boka Jr.
Beauty pageants in South Sudan arenโt what they used to be. These days, theyโre more than just glitz and glamour; theyโre platforms for leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and real social change. The Queen of Queens Beauty Pageant stands out as a fresh initiative trying to pull people together from all corners and communities.
Itโs less about who walks away with a crown and more about promoting openness, equal chances, and national unity. This pageant was built with a bigger idea in mind: give young women a real shot at becoming leaders and ambassadors for peace and progress.
Before this yearโs big finale hits Bros Resort Riverside in Juba on June 20, Smile Junub caught up with Bichiok Duoth Jal Co-Founder and Manager of Queen of Queens to get the full story behind the pageant. Hereโs what he had to say.
Boka Jr: Welcome, Bichiok Duoth Jal. You wear a lot of hats: businessman, entrepreneur, aspiring politician, and Petroleum Engineering student at the University of Juba, and of course, Co-Founder and Manager of Queen of Queens. Thanks for sitting down with us.
Bishok: I appreciate it. Itโs honestly a pleasure to talk about what weโre building, what drives us, and how weโre using this pageant to empower young women and foster unity across South Sudan.
Question: Letโs start with you. Whatโs your story? Why did you step into the beauty pageant world?
Bishok: Well, Iโm Bishok, and as you mentioned, I juggle quite a few roles. My journey really revolves around seeing potential where others donโtโespecially among the youth. Whether itโs in business, education, or just everyday community work, Iโve always thought young people have so much to offer, but not enough doors open for them.
I got interested in beauty pageants after noticing the struggles young women faced even after winning local or state titles. I saw smart, talented, and driven women not getting the recognition, support, or opportunities they needed. I thought, โWhy not help build something better?โ I wanted to create a space where beautyโs just the starting pointโintelligence, leadership, and community impact matter too.
Question: The Queen of Queens pageant has really caught peopleโs attention lately. How did the idea come about?
Bishok: This idea started coming together in 2022, maybe early 2023. Back then, we had all these different pageants, Miss Borchar, Miss Warrap, Miss Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and more. It was exciting, but something was off.
Queens started coming forward with their frustrations. They said they were promised cars, cash, or awards that never materialized. Some thought the competitions werenโt fair or transparent, and others felt completely unsupported after their crowning moments.
We listened. Instead of blaming existing contests, we asked ourselves: โHow do we win back trust and give every queen a fair chance?โ Thatโs really where Queen of Queens began.
We set out to build a true national platformโa space for all these winners from local and state pageants to go toe-to-toe for a final crown, but with rules anyone can trust.
Question: So what actually sets Queen of Queens apart from traditional pageants?
Bishok: To be clear, weโre not just trying to do another beauty contest. We want to start a movement. Most pageants stop at picking a winnerโend of story. Weโre about building leaders.
Every competitor here has already done the work in her own community, county, or state, these arenโt beginners. When they come to Queen of Queens, theyโre ambassadors. And, we bring in contestants from all 64 tribes, so itโs not just about one region or group, itโs about South Sudan as a whole. Weโre strict when it comes to fairness; no favoritism, no shady deals behind the scenes. If you win, itโs because you earned it. Simple as that.
Question: Your sloganโs โbeauty with brains.โ What does that actually look like?
Bishok: For us, beautyโs just the entry ticket. We look for more, a queen should be smart, disciplined, and care about her community. When we say โbeauty with brains,โ weโre talking about women who can walk on stage, yes, but also step up to a podium and talk about real issues, offer solutions, and inspire change. Weโre growing advocates, innovators, role models, women who see the crown not as a pretty accessory, but as a call to action.
Question: What kind of training do contestants get?
Bishok: Trainingโs at the heart of this program. We coach them in leadership, communication, discipline, public speaking, creativity, even personal development. But we donโt stop there. The biggest lesson is about unity regardless of where theyโre from, they have to remember theyโre South Sudanese first. In a country with so much diversity, these queens can really help bridge gaps and build lasting friendships that move beyond regionalism and tribal lines.
Question: You also push contestants to take on community projects. Why is that so important?
Bishok: Look, the crown should mean more than photos or headlines. We ask contestants to pick a social issue theyโre passionate about, anything from environmental protection to health, education, entrepreneurship, or ending gender-based violence, and create real projects around those causes. We help them connect with partners and groups to actually make those projects happen. Itโs not enough just to talk about change; we want them to create it.
Question: What happens to contestants after the pageant ends?
Bishok: Thatโs a big misunderstanding, most people think it all ends on crowning night. For us, thatโs just another beginning. We help our queens find new opportunities, whether thatโs becoming brand ambassadors, public speakers, or leading community initiatives. We set up mentorship and networking opportunities. Not everyone gets a job right away, but doors open when you know the right people and have support. We focus on keeping them connected and giving them the tools to grow.
Question: Organizing something this big has to be tough. Whatโs been the hardest part?
Bishok: Our biggest challenge came in 2023, getting ready for the first edition. We had a big-name sponsor lined up, and things were rolling. Suddenly, that person lost his position, and with it, all the promised funding vanished. We couldโve pushed ahead, but the risk of losing everything was just too high, so we postponed. It stung, but we learned a lot about planning for the unexpected and building something sustainable. All those setbacks made us tougher and smarter.
Question: Some parents are still a bit skeptical about pageantry. What would you tell them?
Bishok: I get it, there are a lot of myths about modeling and pageants. But, globally, itโs a booming industry that creates jobs, opportunities, and real economic value. Participants can win prizes, scholarships, contracts, and sponsorships. Successful models from South Sudanโlike Adut Akech, are proof. Sheโs appeared in major international campaigns and built an impressive career. If pageantry is managed well, itโs a real profession. By backing young, talented women, weโre fighting unemployment and lifting up future leaders.
Question: How do you make sure everyoneโs safe and treated well?
Bishok: Safety and respect come first, no exceptions. Weโve got strict rules for everyone, staff and contestants. We respect privacy, draw firm boundaries, and deal with violations right away. Anyone breaking the code faces consequences, up to dismissal. Our goal is to make every woman feel safe and valued from the second they join.
Question: What can people expect at the grand finale?
Bishok: Get ready for something different. Youโll see more than just fashion, there will be music, dance, comedy, and a showcase of South Sudanโs culture. Contestants will talk about their advocacy work and community projects. Itโs a night to celebrate beauty, talent, diversity, and what South Sudan is really about.
Question: Whatโs your long-term dream for Queen of Queens and for South Sudanese women?
Bishok: I want Queen of Queens to be the most respected beauty pageant in South Sudan, maybe even across Africa. I want us to be known for producing women who lead, start businesses, and drive real change. My hope is that every contestant walks away stronger, more confident, and ready to make a difference. Most of all, I want everyone to see that when young women get the support they deserve, they can transform communities and the country. In the end, our mission is about more than crowns. Itโs about building dreams, finding unity, and inspiring a new generation of South Sudanese women to step up and lead.
Interviewer: Thanks for sitting down with us, Bichiok Duoth Jal. Weโre excited to see what Queen of Queens does next.
Bishok: Thank you and thanks to everyone supporting young talent and positive change in South Sudan. We canโt wait to see you all at the Grand Finale on June 20 in Juba.
Smile Junub
