Behind every crown, there’s a story, and it’s not always sparkles and sashays. In this deeply personal episode of Pageantry Redefined, I open up about something we don’t talk about enough: mental health in the world of beauty, pageantry, and performance.

Because yes, even queens get depressed. 👑💔

Here’s what you’ll hear in this raw conversation:

➡️The pressure to be perfect, always smiling, always “on”

➡️Moments I felt invisible, isolated, or overwhelmed, even in the spotlight

➡️How mental health stigma shows up in African and queer spaces

➡️What helped me: therapy, community, rest, journaling, spiritual grounding

A reminder: vulnerability is not weakness, it’s a superpower

This one’s for the queens struggling silently. You’re not alone. Keep shining through the hard days, even your shadows are royal.

🎧 Listen Now

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4im1kh27A8e6oEbyOoR1Re?si=eRMov-7gRSan-mHmJtYLtg

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pageantry-redefined-by-deborah-mungai/id1662691896

🔗 Stay Connected:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborah.mungai

📘 Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/deborahmungaitia/

🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@deborahmungai

💼 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mungai-a388a2213

▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@deborahmungai

Ever wonder where my confidence and creativity really come from? It’s more than just a vibe, it’s a whole journey shaped by queer culture, ballroom, and the legendary RuPaul. In this episode, I share how discovering RuPaul at 15 during my own queer identity struggles gave me a safe space to express myself and embrace my uniqueness.

What you’ll hear about:

• ​Finding RuPaul during a tough time of self-discovery
• ​How ballroom culture and drag created a sanctuary for my creativity
• ​The power of glitz and glamour to validate feeling “weird” in school
• ​Why drag is more than just performance, it’s a superpower you can live every day
• ​How this journey built confidence that goes beyond the pageant stage

Confidence isn’t born, it’s crafted, one fierce step at a time. Keep owning your space, queen. Catch you next time on Pageantry Redefined.

Listen on:

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4im1kh27A8e6oEbyOoR1Re?si=eRMov-7gRSan-mHmJtYLtg

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pageantry-redefined-by-deborah-mungai/id1662691896

👇 Follow me for more:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborah.mungai

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/deborahmungaitia/

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@deborahmungai

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mungai-a388a2213

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@deborahmungai

Everyone sees the crown, but no one talks about the burnout, the pressure, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes after winning. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the realities of life post-pageant win. From battling imposter syndrome to handling public expectations, this is the raw truth every queen needs to hear.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• ​The pressure to always be polished and “on” for the public
• ​Feeling like you can’t show weakness even when you’re struggling
• ​The gap between public expectations and your own mental and emotional state
• ​Navigating criticism, judgment, and the spotlight on social media
• ​Coping with imposter syndrome after achieving the crown
• ​Why building a community and practicing self-care saved me

✨ Wear your crown your way and stay grounded, queens. This one’s for every pageant winner who feels the weight behind the sparkle.

Listen now on:

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4im1kh27A8e6oEbyOoR1Re?si=eRMov-7gRSan-mHmJtYLtg

🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pageantry-redefined-by-deborah-mungai/id1662691896

👇 Stay connected and follow my journey:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborah.mungai

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/deborahmungaitia/

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@deborahmungai

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mungai-a388a2213

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@deborahmungai

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to choose: between culture and truth, tradition and identity, silence and self.

I haven’t done a big “coming out.” I’m still finding my voice. But as a queer African woman, and now Miss Africa GB, I’m learning how to show up more honestly, even if it’s softly, even if it’s scary.

In this raw reflection, I open up about:

• ​Why queerness felt incompatible with my African identity
• ​How pageantry helped me confront my fear of visibility
• ​The power of quiet courage, and showing up before you're ready
• ​What I’d say to any queer African girl still hiding in silence

If you’re in the in-between, not out loud, but no longer hiding, this one’s for you.

👑 Because your queerness doesn’t make you less African. It makes you revolutionary.

Winning Miss Africa GB wasn’t luck, it was late nights, bold moves, and pure hustle. In this episode of Pageantry Redefined, I’m sharing 6 unfiltered things I actually did to secure the crown, no gatekeeping, no fluff.

From wearing heels every day for a month to gym rehearsals at 2AM, chasing sponsors, and showing up on time every time, I get real about the discipline and mindset it took to walk into that finale knowing I earned it.

Whether you're a future queen, a creative, or just curious about the work behind the win, this episode is your sign to show up for your dreams with intention.

🎧 Listen in, take notes, and remember: if you want to wear the crown, you've got to walk like it’s already yours. 👠

You’ve seen the walk, the gowns, the crown. But what if pageantry was more than a performance?

Welcome to Pageantry Redefined, the podcast where the crown isn’t just a look, it’s a legacy. Hosted by Deborah Mungai, Miss Africa GB 2024–2025, this show goes beyond the glitter to unpack the real journey of reclaiming power, purpose, and identity as a Gen Z African queen.

Expect raw reflections, boundary-breaking conversations, and the bold intersection of queerness, creativity, and culture. From late-night rehearsals to learning to exist out loud, this is your backstage pass to a reimagined pageant world, where you get to define what royalty means.

👠 Confidence. 🎤 Truth. 👑 Redefinition.

Hit the follow button. It’s time to wear your crown your way.

💡 Is joining a beauty pageant like Miss Africa GB expensive? What really happens AFTER you win? In Part 2, I’m revealing the hidden costs, the biggest opportunities, and whether pageant queens must give back to charity. 👑✨

🎬 Watch Now & Learn:
⏳ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro 🔥
00:45 – How much does it REALLY cost to compete in Miss Africa GB? 💰
03:15 – How do contestants manage pageant expenses? 💸
05:00 – The best opportunities I got after winning Miss Africa GB 🌟
07:30 – Do pageant queens HAVE to represent a charity? 🤔
10:10 – Using Miss Africa GB to build my portfolio & future plans 👑

💬 Let’s chat! Are beauty pageants worth the investment? Would you ever compete? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

🚀 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more pageant insights!

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📸 Instagram: @deborah.mungai
📘 Facebook: Deborah Mungai
🎵 TikTok: @deborahmungai
💼 LinkedIn: Deborah Mungai
📺 YouTube: @deborahmungai

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✨ Follow & Subscribe for more exclusive insights into pageantry, success, and personal growth! 🚀

💖 Keep Up With My Journey:

🎙️ Can you WIN a beauty pageant with ZERO experience? In Episode 2, I dive deep into my journey to Miss Africa GB, sharing the biggest challenges, the truth about representation in pageantry, and how to balance it all. 👑✨

💡 Aspiring contestant? Wondering if you need a mentor or agency like models do? Or can you represent yourself and still succeed? I break it all down, plus the essential qualities you need to win big in pageantry! 🏆

🔹 Topics Covered:

✔️ My experience (or lack of) before joining Miss Africa GB

✔️ Do you need a mentor or agency in pageantry?

✔️ The toughest parts of competing in a beauty pageant

✔️ How to balance pageantry with your personal & professional life

✔️ The key traits that make a successful pageant queen

💬 Let’s connect! Join the conversation and share your thoughts!

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💖 Stay Connected:

📸 Instagram: @deborah.mungai

📘 Facebook: Deborah Mungai

🎵 TikTok: @deborahmungai

💼 LinkedIn: Deborah Mungai

📺 YouTube: @deborahmungai

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✨ Follow & Subscribe for more inspiring conversations about pageantry, success, and personal growth! 🚀

Welcome to Pageantry Redefined, where we go beyond the crown, past the sash, and straight into the heart of what it truly means to be a queen. In this first episode, I’m giving you a glimpse into my journey, what inspired me to step into pageantry, and how I’m redefining what this platform can be.

This is bigger than a title, it’s about impact, breaking boundaries, and creating a legacy. And trust me, this is only the beginning! I’ll also be bringing in other queens and special guests to share their own stories and perspectives on what pageantry truly stands for.

Keep up with my content:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com deborah.mungai

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/deborahmungaitia/

Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@deborahmungai

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/deborah-mungai-a388a2213

Subscribe & turn on notifications so you don’t miss an episode! Let’s take this journey together. 🚀✨

🎧 Also available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts!

📌 Watch, Comment & Share! What does pageantry mean to YOU? Let’s talk in the comments! 👇🏾

Quote: “Where focus goes energy flows”

Welcome back to our third episode, one of my personal favourites. In this episode, we talk about what manifestation is and the tools we use to manifest. We don't simply discuss the tools; we also discuss how to use them. One of our favourite concepts is manifestation, which refers to utilising our thoughts and beliefs to create what we desire. We are boundless creatures that were brought to this planet to create, as we demonstrate throughout the episode. Affirmations, visualisation, writing, scripting, meditation, prayer, and other manifestation topics are also covered. We hope you enjoyed this podcast; please share your thoughts on what manifestation means to you.

Want to sponsor an episode? Want us to promote your business on our pod, click here- https://www.lydianyambura.com/sponsorships

Listen to this episode on Spotify-

Listen to this episode on  Apple podcast-

Follow us on Instagram where we get communicate with our listeners and update you on every episode: https://www.instagram.com/storytellingforachange/

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All links: https://beacons.ai/storytellingforachange