As a model and crowned Miss Universe Tanzania, Flaviana Matata is apparently enjoying an excellent international career with great impact to her world.
Remitting back to her motherland, Matata founded the Flaviana Matata Foundation (FMF) in 2011, a grassroot non-governmental organization (NGO) that provides financial and material support to underprivileged girls in Tanzania. Her team also provides school supplies to over 3,000 students and renovates school buildings, many of which lack basic facilities.
The graduate of electrical engineering indeed prepared and positioned herself for a possible successful career. However, her life’s course quickly changed in 2007 when she entered and won the first Miss Universe Tanzania competition. She went on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant and soon embarked on a successful international modeling career, appearing in ads by designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Tori Burch.
Yet, despite the success, Matata felt compelled to travel back to her roots and support young women far less fortunate than herself. Her charitable work was inspired by her father, a single parent who bent over backward to support those around him and ensure that his extended family went to school. In a region like sub-Saharan Africa where only 17% of girls are enrolled in secondary school, this made a lasting impression on Matata.
The Flaviana Matata Foundation (FMF) has reached over 4,500 girls and has grown from providing scholarships and paying for school fees, to supporting the multiple needs of girls so that they can feel safe throughout their entire education, and have the skills and support they need to obtain a job, start a career or launch a business.
The 33-year-old fashion model is a recipient of several awards, like “Most Inspirational Woman” award at the 2018 Global Women Gala and others. She is one of top 7 list of models that have recorded the highest income in Africa mentioned by 2013 Forbes Africa. Also in 2017, she was mentioned by okay.com as the one of Top 100 Women in Africa.
