Miss Africa Idaho Pageant promotes education

Ten women competed in Miss Africa Idaho Saturday night at CSI.

They each represented a different African country.

The pageant is part of GK Folks Foundation.

Miss Africa Idaho is a cultural scholarship program and helps young female African students with school.

But the pageant is also about sharing culture.

"What we're doing here is trying to show that we are one but we have different specific cultures that make us who we are and make us united," said Winnie Christensen, the director of Idaho's pageant.

Christensen also said the pageant was about education.

"As we educate the community about it...we also get to learn from the community," she said. "That way we are together and we promote peace and assimilation."

Olivia Balemba won the pageant and is the new Miss Africa Idaho. She represented Tanzania and she lives in Moscow, Idaho. She is also a student at the University of Idaho.