Flaviana Matata is a Tanzanian model and entrepreneur. Born in Shinyanga in 1987, she studied electrical engineering at Arusha Technical College before winning the first Miss Universe Tanzania title in 2007 and representing Tanzania at Miss Universe, where she competed with a shaved head.

Forbes Africa listed her among Africa’s highest-earning models in 2013, and OkayAfrica named her one of its Top 100 Women in Africa in 2017.

In 2011 she founded the Flaviana Matata Foundation, which supports girls’ education in Tanzania and has reached more than 5,000 students with scholarships, school supplies, desks and clean-water projects. She also launched Lavy, a nail polish line sold in Tanzania and Uganda.

Flaviana Matata is featured in the lineup for the WEDO2018 Summit. Learn more about the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO).