Karen from Senior Chief Koinange Secondary School and Moses from Othaya Boys High School have been crowned Miss and Mr High School Kenya 2025 at the inaugural Pace Teens Festival held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), marking a vibrant celebration of teenage talent, confidence, and cultural pride among Kenyan youth.
The electrifying event, which drew over 2,000 students from across the country, culminated in the duo receiving Ksh 30,000 each courtesy of sponsor Harveys Digital, a tech firm dedicated to empowering young innovators.
The Pace Teens Festival 2025, organised by Pace Media Group in partnership with the Ministry of Education and various corporate backers, transformed KICC into a whirlwind of energy from Friday through Sunday. What began as a platform for high school debates, dance battles, and poetry slams evolved into a full-blown showcase of adolescent excellence, with the beauty and charisma pageant serving as the grand finale.
Karen, a 17-year-old Form Three student from Kiambu County, dazzled judges with her poised runway walk, eloquent speech on environmental conservation, and a traditional Kikuyu dance that blended grace with modern flair.
“This crown is for every girl who ever felt overlooked in class or on the field,” she said tearfully while accepting her tiara, her voice steady despite the roaring applause.
Moses, 18, from Nyeri’s Othaya Boys High School, matched her energy with a commanding presence honed from school rugby and drama club. His performance included a heartfelt monologue on mental health challenges facing Kenyan teens, drawing from personal experiences of balancing academics and family pressures.
“Winning this feels like validation that boys can be vulnerable and strong at the same time,” he shared, clutching his trophy as confetti rained down. The runners-up, Aisha from Mombasa Girls and Kevin from Alliance High School, each pocketed Ksh 15,000, ensuring the spotlight shone on emerging stars from diverse regions.
Harvey’s Digital’s sponsorship shows the festival’s tech-forward ethos, with CEO Miriam Kariuki presenting the prizes alongside gadgets like laptops and smartphones for all top ten finalists. “Our investment in these young leaders is about fuelling the next wave of Kenyan disruptors.
Beauty pageants today are gateways to boardrooms tomorrow,” Kariuki noted during the handover. The company, known for its digital marketing tools tailored for SMEs, also hosted side sessions on social media savvy, where participants learnt to craft viral content responsibly.
Beyond the glamour, the event tackled pressing teen issues head-on. Workshops led by psychologists addressed cyberbullying and exam stress, while a panel with influencers like Azziad Nasenya inspired crowds on turning passions into professions.
. “Events like Pace Teens remind us that our high schools are incubators of national pride, not just exam halls,” the Education Cabinet secretary remarked, pledging government support for future editions.
Parents and teachers from participating schools, including Senior Chief Koinange and Othaya Boys, organised victory parades back home, turning local streets into impromptu festivals.
Critics of traditional pageants appreciated the modern twist, noting how the competition emphasised intellect and community service over mere aesthetics, with finalists required to submit essays on sustainable development.
As the inaugural Pace Teens Festival wraps up, organisers hint at expanding to regional qualifiers next year, potentially reaching coastal and Rift Valley hubs. For Karen and Moses, the win opens doors to scholarships and mentorships, but they remain grounded.
“This is just the start,” Moses told reporters post-event. “I’ll use this platform to advocate for better sports facilities in rural schools.” In a nation where youth unemployment hovers at 35 per cent, such spotlights offer hope, proving that high school stages can launch lifelong journeys.
The festival not only crowned queens and kings but also crowned a new era for Kenyan teen events, blending fun with purpose in ways that resonate far beyond KICC’s halls.
