"I feel it's not fair to judge someone based on their height. We should be judged as who we are not what we are," - Linet Kinya, Miss University Kenya 2021.

Standing at 5 foot 3 inches, Linet Kinya, 24, is considered short by the international standards set for beauty queens. However, the reigning Miss University Kenya was not deterred by her height, or the lack of it, thereof, and confidently went ahead to contest for the coveted title. Linet who is also pursuing Public Relations at St Paul's University is also a theology student at the Mustard Seed School of Ministry.

"At first it was intimidating watching all the tall girls auditioning. Some of the girls were also quite experienced and had contested in the Miss Universe and Miss World contests," says Linet who is a Land Administration fifth year student at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK). "I did not audition on the first day, but when they announced there would be a second day of auditions, I gathered courage and went for the audition," she says.

"I did not think I stood a chance in modelling though I always rocked 6 inch heels on campus," explains Linet. "I was encouraged by my peers to try out the Miss TUK beauty contest but I was shy. I did not enter the contest in my first or second year of college," she says.

However, during her third year in campus, Linet decided to give the contest a shot. "Most of the girls who entered the competition were very tall; after all, wasn't height one of the requirements?" she poses. "Needless to say, I was intimidated by height but my faith kept me going," she says.

Linet decided that she would use what worked in her favour. "My smile is my strength. My outfits were also quite outstanding," she says. As the competition advanced, there was a peace in me I could not explain and I knew that I would win, says Linet.

"When I was announced as the winner of Miss TUK 2019, I cried," says Linet. "That was the most impossible thing I had achieved and the furthest out of my comfort zone I had ventured," she says. "My family was shocked. When they saw the sash, crown and flowers, it registered home that I had indeed won. I did not sleep for a week," she laughs.

Linet says she worked hard for the crown and it humbled her to be chosen as the ultimate winner. She however, feels that judging someone based on their height is not fair. "How do I change my height?" she poses. "I feel we should be judged based on who we are not what we have," says Linet who says she is eyeing Miss Universe Kenya in about two years time. "I think it is possible. My faith is beyond limitations and with God backing me, I'll win with my 5 3'," she says.

Having experienced depression before, Linet took up a mental health project during her reign. "I know life can be dark," she states. "In 2018, I dropped out of campus as I did not feel like pursuing Land Administration. I tried out for an air-hostess job but failed on account of my height. I fell out with my parents since they could not understand why I had dropped out of college," she explains.

With nowhere to go, Linet was homeless and resorted to sleeping on the streets and sometimes at her former college, TUK. "I felt suicidal and wanted to die. I started asking God what plans He had for me," she says. Linet says she heard a still voice telling her that; "I know the plans I have for you," and she knew God wasn't done with her yet.

"I got a job. My parents called me, we reconciled and I went back home. I also went back to college to continue with my course," she narrates. Linet says she would want to be a speaker. I want to empower and encourage people on hope, faith and purpose, she says. "I hope people will see God through my life," concludes the beauty queen.