Rachel Uwineza

Rachel (Neza) Uwineza, was born in Kampala, Uganda, and raised in Kigali, in her parents’ home country of Rwanda. She is the second-born in a family of six siblings. Her parents met in Uganda in 1994, during the Genocide against the Tutsi. Like other families of refugees, they fled to neighboring East African countries before going back to Rwanda after the genocide, where she went to school from kindergarten on.

Quotes

 * I have good memories of growing up with four brothers. I only knew how to play boy games, like climbing and gymnastics, and I was in our school parade. I loved wearing clothes with pockets, like jumpsuits, skirts, dresses or shorts—anything with pockets, which I still like.
 * MEET NEZA RACHEL | AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL - TAP MAGAZINE The Africa perspective, (April 17, 2018)
 * The Genocide left a sad stain on our country’s history, and I remember growing up, at school and everywhere else, there were so many kids who were orphans. It was very rare to find a child with both parents.
 * MEET NEZA RACHEL | AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL - TAP MAGAZINE The Africa perspective, (April 17, 2018)
 * Modelling wasn’t something I ever thought I’d do. I was never the most beautiful girl in the neighborhood, but a lanky, tall, dark girl with curly hair.
 * MEET NEZA RACHEL | AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL - TAP MAGAZINE The Africa perspective, (April 17, 2018)
 * I model because I love fashion and art. Modeling is the best way I have to communicate to the society that I want to inspire.
 * MEET NEZA RACHEL | AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL - TAP MAGAZINE The Africa perspective, (April 17, 2018)
 * Modeling is like acting. When I am on the runway, I am more confident, and I feel like I’m on top of the world. I just focus on the photographer, not the crowd—that’s the attitude. When in photo shoots, I’m always conscious about the outcome that the client expects, so I give it my all. But mostly I have fun.
 * MEET NEZA RACHEL | AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL - TAP MAGAZINE The Africa perspective, (April 17, 2018)