Sureya Opens Up on Her Bittersweet Farewell to the Miss Uganda Stage

As the Miss Uganda 2025/26 queens settle into their reign, one of last year’s shining stars, Sureya Umeimah, is looking back on her unforgettable journey with grace and gratitude.

The Miss Uganda 2024/25 First Runner-Up and Miss Uganda Eastern opened up about the experience of handing over her title during an interview on the Ugandan Boy Talk show.

For Sureya, the moment of passing on the crown came with mixed emotions.

It is a bittersweet feeling, if I can put it that way, because suddenly you have given up the crown and it is no longer you reigning.

She admitted that letting go is not easy, especially after forming a personal bond with the crown that had defined a chapter of her life.

Someone else has come and you get to realise you had a certain attachment to the crown. Like every time I would look at it and polish it and put it down there with my sashes, and then yeah, you finally get to realise you have to grow beyond that.

But even with the nostalgia, Sureya sees the experience as a necessary part of growth.

You literally have to grow beyond the crown. That is the reason you are given the crown, to help you navigate and find your purpose in life.

She said watching the new titleholders step into their roles fills her with pride rather than envy.

I was so happy for the current top three, who are now the Miss Ugandas taking over the airwaves and everything. It feels so good that they are now going to actually live their dream, and for all the girls who were there, they are literally the ones who are living our dreams. We are getting to see it come true. Yeah, It is a bittersweet feeling.

Though she may have handed over her title, Sureya’s outlook remains grounded in gratitude and growth, which is proof that the true spirit of a queen lives far beyond the stage.