At 57, Kenya's Victoria Bwire eyes Ksh.2.5M in Next Runway Star competition; How to vote

Born and raised in Kenya, Bwire-Kettnitz frequently found herself fielding questions from strangers asking if she was a model. 

For years, she brushed off the compliments, laughingly deflecting that it was likely just her bald head attracting attention.

However, after a chance encounter with the competition on her Facebook feed at 6:00 a.m. one morning, she decided to silence inner doubts, step beyond her comfort zone, and prove that true beauty is unbound by age.

Behind her entry lies a story of profound grief, personal strength, and deep family ties.

Bwire-Kettnitz lost her mother when she was just under five years old, relying on old photographs to preserve her memory. 

She credits her late father for shaping the person she is today, recalling how his unconditional love defined what affection meant without ever needing to speak the word.

"I am proud of the relationship I had with my late father. He defined love for me without ever speaking the word. I am proud of the daughter that I became," she says. 

Flying back home to Kenya for his funeral, she found profound peace in knowing they had expressed everything necessary through their actions during his lifetime.

Tragedy would strike her life again in recent years when she lost her husband, followed just seven months later by the peaceful passing of her father.  

Bwire-Kettnitz’s participation in the Next Runway Star competition is driven by a deep sense of purpose. 

Moved to take a stand by current world events - specifically expressing outrage over the Epstein Files - she aims to channel her energy into meaningful, positive change by encouraging supporters to purchase charity votes benefiting RISE, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Her primary mission, however, hits much closer to home. Having grown up in Kenya believing her family was "cursed" due to widespread mental health issues - including losing a relative to suicide and watching loved ones struggle with sexual abuse and mental illness - she later learned that mental health challenges can be genetic.

Should she secure the Next Runway Star title, Bwire-Kettnitz plans to direct the entire $20,000 (Ksh. 2.5 million) cash prize toward mental health care. 

Recognizing that facilities in Kenya remain inadequate, she has already identified a mental health facility in Kiambu, Kenya, that will directly benefit from the funds.

"I have accepted the fact that any meaningful existence for me, must embrace contributing all I can to alleviate the suffering caused by mental illness. The mental health facilities in my country, Kenya, are inadequate. The cash prize from this project will go towards providing care for the mentally ill," she stated.

For Victoria Bwire-Kettnitz, the competition is far more than a modelling contest; it is a movement grounded in hope, love, and community service. 

As she puts it: "Beauty is an energy that transforms rooms, brings laughter, and connects people - an essence that age can never diminish."

To vote for Victoria Bwire, kindly visit and drop your vote at https://nextrunwaystar.com/2026/victoria-kettnitz 

Voting for this round ends on September 9, 2026, at 10:00 PM EDT (Eastern Daylight Time).