From Fear to Pageant Crown: A Trans Woman's Journey from Uganda to UK
Amanda Kamanda's life changed forever in 2022 when she received electrifying news via Zoom: "I can now tell you that you are our first ever Miss Trans Global Uganda finalist – congratulations!" Screaming with delight, she had reached the top seven of the global pageant, achieving what once seemed impossible for a transgender woman from Uganda.
A Childhood of Suppressed Dreams
As a child, Amanda loved everything about beauty and fashion, but could never fully express this passion. "Although being trans is not explicitly banned in Uganda, people like me are essentially in legal limbo and discrimination is widespread," she explains. Growing up in a Catholic school with strict dress codes, she endured non-inclusive sex education, anti-LGBTQ+ religious sermons, and a derogatory media landscape.
"I felt like my dreams to explore creative arts were suffocated," Amanda recalls. Prioritizing basic survival meant sacrificing public expression of her gender identity. To find community, she created a fake social media profile and joined anonymous private groups with others living secretly. "We started meeting each other secretly, despite living in the closet," she says, describing how fear of being outed prevented public cross-dressing while she also didn't fit into the straight world.
Finding Liberation in the UK
After graduating, Amanda applied for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship from the British Government. Two months later, her successful application brought her to the University of Bath in 2021 for a master's degree. Life in the UK proved liberating compared to Uganda. British cities embraced diversity, allowing her to watch trans-inclusive TV shows like Pose on BBC iPlayer, revamp her skincare routine, and transform her wardrobe from masculine to feminine aesthetics.
She changed the gender marker on legal documents and explored LGBTQ+ nightlife across the UK. "Then in June 2022, I attended my first Pride parade in London and was completely blown away," Amanda remembers, noting police protection, mayoral endorsement, and corporate participation that would be unthinkable in Uganda.
The Pageant Transformation
Around this time, Amanda discovered Miss Trans Global on Facebook and felt safe enough in the UK to apply. "I want to challenge stereotypes about femininity and represent my country, Uganda," she declared in her audition tape. After an interview with judges, she dedicated herself to learning confident walking, public speaking, makeup application, and polished etiquette.
The entirely online pageant (due to COVID-19 restrictions) proved intense from start to finish. For the evening ball gown category, Amanda walked in an elegant rose pink lace long prom dress as crowds cheered via YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram livestreams. "I was nervous but excited, since I was the first to represent Uganda," she says.
Her efforts earned her "Third Princess Global" and "Inspirational Queen of the Year" titles. "The pageant was an opportunity to celebrate our unique traits of beauty and gender expression in a world that forces us to live in fear or shame about our bodies," she reflects.
Visibility and Consequences
Participating in the beauty pageant helped Amanda find feminine charm and confidence that transformed her life. She became campaign officer for her university's LGBTQ+ students club in 2022 and began her medical transition that same year. However, visibility came with serious consequences. Being open about her identity led to being outed in Uganda through social media.
"My family and friends back home found out I was transgender and were initially furious," Amanda reveals. While some cut ties and others gradually reconciled, most remain negative about her identity. The situation made returning to Uganda unsafe, forcing her to apply for and receive UK asylum in 2023.
Building a New Life
Despite challenges, Amanda has built a joyful life in the UK. She works in the charity sector, co-founding the Minority Inclusion Foundation to support LGBTQ+ refugees, and has modeled for magazines. She also serves as an ambassador for Refugee Week UK 2025, the largest arts and culture festival celebrating refugee contributions worldwide.
"From competing as Miss Trans Global Uganda, I learnt to conquer my fears about myself," Amanda concludes. "The pageant changed my life by pushing me out of my comfort zone to a place of growth." It transformed her geographical location, physical appearance, career, community, and most importantly, her relationship with herself.
This journey from fear to pageant crown illustrates both the ongoing struggles and remarkable resilience of transgender people seeking visibility and acceptance in an often hostile world.
