Miss World Uganda Trivia Elle Muhoza has used the international stage to draw attention to maternal health, appearing at the 73rd Miss World Festival in a gown inspired by the experience of Caesarean section (C-section) delivery.
The avant-garde gown, designed by Ugandan fashion designer Keesha Abdallah, combines haute couture with a message about the physical and emotional realities faced by mothers who undergo the surgical procedure to deliver their babies.
Muhoza wore the creation as part of the prestigious World Designer Award, where designers from different countries showcase creations inspired by cultural, social and contemporary themes.
Rather than relying on conventional pageant aesthetics, the Ugandan designer and beauty queen used the garment to tell a story about childbirth, recovery and the courage of mothers who undergo major surgery.
A story told through fabric
The gown features a dramatic mermaid silhouette with cascading layers of tulle.
According to the concept behind the design, the layers represent the different anatomical layers surgeons navigate during a C-section, while also reflecting the physical and emotional stages of a mother’s childbirth experience.
The colour palette moves from softer shades of peach and gold into progressively deeper tones of coral, red, maroon and burgundy.
The transition is intended to evoke blood, life and the intensity associated with surgery and childbirth.
The gown is further decorated with hand-beading using pearls, glass beads and crystal stones. The embellishments represent the fragility of life and the scars that may remain after the procedure.
Challenging perceptions of C-section deliveries
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the gown seeks to challenge stigma surrounding Caesarean deliveries, particularly perceptions in communities where surgical births can sometimes be viewed differently from vaginal deliveries.
By placing the C-section scar at the centre of a high-fashion concept, Muhoza and Abdallah seek to reframe it as a symbol of a mother’s strength and sacrifice rather than something to be hidden.
The design also highlights the different experiences of childbirth, where medical circumstances may require a woman to undergo surgery to safely deliver her baby.
The choice of maternal health as a theme adds a social dimension to Muhoza’s participation at the Miss World festival, where contestants are increasingly expected to use their platforms to highlight causes beyond beauty and fashion.
The gown has also attracted attention online from pageant followers and maternal health advocates, with discussions centring on its symbolism and the decision to use fashion to address an often-sensitive aspect of motherhood.
For Uganda, the appearance provides another opportunity to showcase the country’s growing fashion talent on an international platform while linking creative expression to conversations about maternal health.
