Elizabeth Makune: Woman on her own timeline

TANZANIA: EIGHT years after winning Miss Tanzania 2018 and representing Tanzania at Miss World, Elizabeth Makune has returned to pageantry with a renewed sense of purpose.

Crowned Miss Universe Tanzania 2026, she is embracing a new chapter shaped by motherhood, professional growth, entrepreneurship and a commitment to public health advocacy.

For Elizabeth, the journey is about more than winning another crown. It is about understanding that a woman’s ambitions can evolve with time, and that age, family responsibilities and past disappointments should not determine how far she can go.

In an interview with Woman Magazine, she reflects on the experiences that have shaped her outlook, the causes she hopes to champion and why she believes every woman deserves the freedom to pursue her dreams on her own timeline.

Elizabeth’s pageant journey began in 2017, when she competed in Miss Tanzania and finished as first runner-up. In 2018, she returned to the competition and won the national title, earning the opportunity to represent Tanzania at Miss World in China, where she reached the Top 15.

The experience introduced her to an international platform and opened doors to new opportunities. However, her journey soon expanded beyond beauty pageants as she focused on professional development, family life, motherhood and community engagement.

She also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Dar es Salaam, strengthening her knowledge of business and broadening her professional interests.

Looking back, Elizabeth believes the years away from pageantry taught her lessons that extended far beyond competition.

“These eight years have taught me that life is not always about winning, but about learning, falling, getting back up and moving forward,” she says.

Her return to the spotlight in 2026, culminating in her Miss Universe Tanzania title, represents an opportunity to approach pageantry differently.

“This time, I did not return for the crown alone, I returned with a purpose,” she explains.

She recalls the pressure she experienced while preparing for Miss World in 2018, when the desire to win sometimes overshadowed the experience itself.

Today, she is determined to prepare thoroughly while appreciating the relationships, knowledge and opportunities that come with competing internationally.

As she prepares to represent Tanzania at Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico, she hopes to give her best, learn from contestants around the world and use the platform to advance causes that matter to her.

For Elizabeth, success is no longer measured by a crown alone, but also by what one does with the opportunities that follow.

Beyond pageantry, one of Elizabeth’s strongest commitments is public health advocacy, particularly raising awareness of sickle cell disease.

Through her campaign, Vunja Mduara, meaning “Break the Cycle”, she hopes to improve public understanding of the condition, encourage appropriate screening and challenge the stigma experienced by affected individuals and their families.

The cause is deeply personal. Elizabeth explains that she carries the sickle cell gene and has a close family member living with the condition.

These experiences have helped her understand some of the emotional, social and financial challenges families may face.

She also recalls that when she was expecting her child, she did not have sufficient knowledge about her own genetic status.

The experience strengthened her belief that young people need accurate information about sickle cell disease before making family-planning decisions.

Through Vunja Mduara, she wants to encourage individuals and couples to seek genetic screening and professional counselling, while supporting appropriate newborn screening and timely medical care where available.

Her message is not about discouraging people from having children. Rather, she wants families to have the information they need to make informed decisions about their health.

She also believes this responsibility should not fall on women alone. Men must participate in understanding genetic health, supporting their partners and making informed family decisions.

Through her pageant platform, Elizabeth hopes to extend these conversations to more young people and families. For her, the value of advocacy lies in the knowledge shared, the stigma challenged and the lives positively affected.

Away from the stage, Elizabeth balances motherhood with professional responsibilities, entrepreneurship and community initiatives.

She acknowledges that managing several commitments is not always easy. Experience has taught her the importance of discipline, time management and prioritising what matters most. She has also learnt that asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

Her message to women is that motherhood should not diminish their ambitions or sense of self-worth. A woman can raise a family while continuing her education, building a career, developing a business or exploring new opportunities.

Her priorities may change, but her dreams do not have to disappear. Elizabeth challenges the expectation that women must achieve particular milestones by a certain age.

Society may expect women to marry, establish careers, own homes or achieve financial stability within a prescribed period, yet every woman’s circumstances are different.

She believes a woman can succeed at 30, 40 or even 60. Not meeting other people’s expectations within their preferred timeframe does not mean she has failed.

Instead, she encourages women to invest in education, develop useful skills, pursue financial independence and trust in their abilities and in God.

Her own return to pageantry reflects this belief. Rather than viewing the years away from competition as lost time, she sees them as a period of growth that has prepared her for a different kind of journey.

Elizabeth’s ambitions also extend to business and investment, particularly opportunities in agriculture that can provide sustainable income. For her, financial independence is about more than having money. It is about the freedom to make decisions, support one’s family and live with dignity.

She is interested in developing income streams that can generate returns without requiring her constant involvement in daily operations.

She sees financial planning and entrepreneurship as important elements of building a stable future. Her message to women is to recognise the value of developing practical skills and exploring opportunities that can strengthen their economic independence.

Elizabeth’s understanding of resilience has also been shaped by her experience of contesting a parliamentary seat in her hometown.

She entered the race because she wanted to serve the community in which she grew up, investing her time, resources and emotions in the campaign.

Losing was painful, and for a time, she felt she had failed completely. With support from her family and advisers, she gradually regained her confidence and reflected on what the experience had taught her.

She came to understand that public service does not end when someone fails to secure an elected position. Leadership can also mean supporting others, contributing to the community and continuing to serve without holding public office.

The experience reinforced her belief that disappointment does not have to mark the end of a dream. For women afraid of starting again, her advice is simple: give yourself another chance.

“Start where you are, with what you have,” she advises. “Do not wait until you feel one hundred per cent ready.” As she prepares for Miss Universe 2026, Elizabeth wants to showcase Tanzania’s culture, history, people and tourist attractions to an international audience.

She hopes to introduce more people to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Serengeti plains and Zanzibar, while highlighting the country’s hospitality, cultural diversity and Kiswahili.

She also hopes to use social media and other communication platforms to share Tanzania’s story beyond the competition itself.

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Her ambitions stretch further into the future. Looking ten years ahead, Elizabeth hopes to serve in public leadership, potentially as Minister for Youth, Employment and Labour.

She wants to contribute to expanding opportunities for young people in employment, entrepreneurship and innovation.

In her view, Tanzania’s youth have considerable talent and potential, but they need supportive environments, resources and opportunities to succeed.

Her vision reflects a belief that success should not be measured solely by personal achievements, but also by the opportunities one creates for others.

Elizabeth Makune’s journey brings together motherhood, professional growth, entrepreneurship, advocacy and a renewed pursuit of pageantry.

Each experience has contributed to how she understands success and the responsibility that comes with influence.

Her return to the stage after eight years is a reminder that life does not always follow a straight line. Circumstances change, responsibilities grow and ambitions evolve.

Sometimes, a woman must pause, reconsider her direction or find a different route towards her goals. For Elizabeth, the crown is an opportunity rather than the final destination.

She hopes to use her experiences and public platform to raise awareness of sickle cell disease, represent Tanzania with pride and contribute to the wellbeing of others.

Her message to women is to keep learning, invest in their future and refuse to let other people’s expectations define their potential.

A woman does not have to achieve everything at once, nor must she follow someone else’s timetable to live a meaningful life.