The Miss Ethiopia began in 1963. There were two editions during the period and it finally rerun as the Miss Ethiopia pageant in 1988 under the Ethio American Entertainment Inc. Currently, the Miss Ethiopia pageant is owned by Murad Mohammed.
Controversies
The chairman of Miss Ethiopia, Murad Mohammed, is the director of Ethiopian Village Adventure Playground, which claims ownership of Miss Ethiopia, and has frequently announced that the Miss Ethiopia queens would participate in international pageants like Miss International, Miss Earth, Miss Progress, etc. despite not owning a franchise for the pageants. Much of the judging is not done publicly, so the general population is not able to follow the process from start to finish, or see the final event taking place.[1]
Melkam Michael Endale, who was crowned Miss Ethiopia 2010, was later appointed Miss World Ethiopia in 2012 without taking part in a contest for the purpose of attending Miss World 2012. She failed to attend the event.[2] She was also listed as Ethiopia's representative to Miss Intercontinental Pageant 2012, but once again did not show.[3]
Lack of transparency
The latest version of the pageant is seen to lack transparency, due to the fact that the winner is suddenly announced without a proper contest being held, girls are put in a studio with sashes proclaiming them to be finalist, but the public are not able to follow the process from start to finish, or see the actual final event taking place.[1]
In several years past the runner up has simply been appointed Miss Ethiopia by Murad Mohammed and Ethiopian Village Adventure Playground for the purpose of attending Miss World for example. Melkam Michael Endale who was crowned Miss Ethiopia 2010 for example, who never got her promised car or 100,000 ETBirr,[4] was simply appointed as Miss World Ethiopia in 2012, without taking part in a contest for the purpose of attending Miss World 2012
Bogus prizes
Murad Mohammed, the director of Ethiopian Village Adventure Playground, who claims to be the latest owner of Miss Ethiopia, has been accused of repeatedly advertising bogus prizes for his version of Miss Ethiopia, such as 100,000 Et Birr, US$6250 prize, a house, Modelling contract in New York, participation in several international pageants, awarding of 60,000 Et birr US$3750 Diamond rings,[5] none of which can be verified as having been ever awarded.
Titleholders
Year
Miss Ethiopia
Notes
1963
Ejigayehu Beyene
1964
Misrak Million
1968
Wossene Hailu
1988
Sehin Belew
Ethio American Entertainment Inc. directorship
2009
Chuna Okaka
Murad Mohammed directorship
2010
Melkam Michael Endale
Miss World Ethiopia 2012
2013
Genet Tsegay Tesfay
Miss World Ethiopia 2013
2014
Nardos Tegegne
2015
Kisanet Teklit Teklehaimanot
Miss World Ethiopia 2015
2018
Sollyana Abayneh
Miss World Ethiopia 2018
Ethiopia at International pageants
Miss World Ethiopia
: Declared as Winner
: Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
: Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
: Ended as special awards winner
Began 2003 the new foundation of Miss World Ethiopia (Ethiopian Beauty Queens Organization) took the franchise of Miss World and the winner represents Ethiopia at Miss World pageant.
Year
Miss Ethiopia
Placement at Miss World
Special Awards
Notes
2025
TBA
2024
No competition held
2023
Rgat Afewerki Ybrah
Unplaced
Due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, no pageant between 2020—2022
2019
Feven Araya Gebreslassie
Unplaced
2018
Sollyana Abayneh
Unplaced
2017
Kisanet Haile Gbereslasie
Unplaced
2016
Did not compete
2015
Kisanet Teklit Teklehaimanot
Unplaced
2014
Yirgalem Hadish Adhanom
Unplaced
2013
Genet Tsegay Tesfay
Unplaced
2012
Melkam Michael Endale
Unplaced
2011
Did not compete
2010
Hiwot Assefa Tesfaye
Unplaced
2009
Lula Gezu Weldegebriel
Unplaced
2008
Hibret Fedaku Alemu
Unplaced
2007
Mihret Abebe
Unplaced
2006
Amleset Muchie
Unplaced
2005
Seble Mekonnen
Unplaced
2004
Sayat Demissie
Unplaced
2003
Hayat Ahmed Mohammed
Top 20
Miss World Africa
Miss International Ethiopia
: Declared as Winner
: Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
: Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
: Ended as special awards winner
The second title of Miss World Ethiopia will be Miss International Ethiopia and represents Ethiopia at Miss International pageant.
Year
Miss Ethiopia
Placement at Miss International
Special Awards
Notes
2024
Hermela Nigussie
TBA
Did not compete between 2019—2023
2018
Frezewd Solomon Demissie
Unplaced
Runner-up of Miss World Ethiopia 2018 appointed as Miss International Ethiopia 2018.
Miss Supranational Ethiopia individually held by Miss Supranational Ethiopia Organization. The winner represents Ethiopia at Miss Supranational pageant.
Year
Miss Ethiopia
Placement at Miss Supranational
Special Awards
Notes
2023
Did not compete
Due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, no pageant between 2020—2022