Heels for pads is a Beauty With a Purpose project by Maria Wavinya (Miss World Kenya 2019) and it focuses on menstrual shaming and poverty. This agenda was brought to the fore ground following the recent case of Jackline, a 14 year old girl in rural Kenya who took her own life following an embarrassing experience with her class teacher.

“Having grown up in the slums, I know only too well the struggle of priority when little money is available. Having recently cleared my high school education and seen the challenges of self-esteem, humiliation and lack of information when it came to experiencing one’s menstrual period, I took it upon myself to educate and re assure young girls on the importance of this experience in womanhood.”

Maria Wavinya

In collaboration with the Mr. and Miss World Kenya office, the partnership with Heels For Pads, a social non-profit organization that is geared towards impacting young girls and community members by sensitizing them on period shaming as well as providing them with affordable pads.

“I have visited several schools at the primary and secondary level, visited slum dwellings as well as auctioned heels on radio and television in order to drive awareness and raise some funding for the cause.”

Maria Wavinya