The KNUST College of Engineering has witnessed a revolutionary shift in its extracurricular landscape this August, with the spectacular success of two maiden pageants designed to celebrate the multifaceted brilliance of its female students. Moving beyond traditional concepts, these events fused elegance with intellect, spotlighting the next generation of women leaders in STEM.
The Ghana Engineering Students’ Association (GESA-KNUST) inaugurated this new chapter with the Grand Finale of the first-ever Miss Ingenia on Sunday, 10th August 2025, at the Kumapley Auditorium. The event was conceived to celebrate ingenuity, leadership, and elegance, marking a significant step in empowering women in engineering.
The night climaxed in the crowning of Senam Ama Aflo, a first-year Industrial Engineering student, as the pioneer Miss Ingenia. Her winning project focused on grassroots empowerment, aiming to equip young girls with essential practical automotive skills, including checking and changing engine oil and replacing car tyres.
Merlyn Baroness Barnes, a second-year Aerospace Engineering student, joined her as First Runner-Up, and Pokuaah-Boachie Nana Yaa, a first-year Electrical Engineering student, as Second Runner-Up.
The competition was assessed by a distinguished panel of judges, including Comfort Awudie (Miss Philanthropy West Africa), Miss Kimberly Awuah (CEO of Kimchi Enterprise), Madam Emmanuella Kwao-Boateng (WiNE KNUST Patron), and Emmanuella Asare (First Runner-Up of Ghana’s Most Beautiful). The event was further graced by the presence of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), whose attendance underscored the national importance of initiatives that empower women in STEM fields.
Hot on the heels of this success, the Faculty of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering Students’ Association (FMCESA) held its maiden pageant, The Face of FMCESA, under the theme “Embracing the Dynamo of Beauty and Innovation for Sustainability.”
The journey began with auditions, from which six exceptional ladies advanced. The Semi-Finals, dubbed "Innovation Day," saw contestants pitch innovative renewable energy projects, emphasising creativity and practical problem-solving skills, which led to the exit of two contestants.
The Grand Finale, held on Saturday, 16th August 2025, was a vibrant blend of beauty, talent, and intellect. After a keenly contested night, the winners were announced:
- Winner (Face of FMCESA): Nana Ama Amanfo Olive
- 1st Runner-up: Pagnaa Mariam Sherief
- 2nd Runner-up: Sandra Awuah
- 3rd Runner-up: Jerrica Adwoa Ewoenam Owusu
FMCESA expressed profound gratitude to the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Francis Kemausuor, and the Faculty Registrar, Mrs. Elizabeth Maame Esi Amissah, for their unwavering support, alongside the Executive Council and the entire student body.
Miss Ingenia and The Face of FMCESA have set a powerful new precedent for pageantry within the college. They have successfully established themselves not merely as contests of beauty but as vital platforms for inspiration, empowerment, and innovation. These events have highlighted that the modern female engineer is a dynamic force—a fusion of elegance, intelligence, and the practical skill to drive sustainable change in Ghana and beyond.
