[iWritten ]By Izunna Okafor[/i]


Three pulchritudinous damsels have emerged as winners of the 2021 Miss Mbanese Beauty Pageantry.

The well-attended 2021 beauty pageantry which held at Triple Fish Hotel, Utuh in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, drew the participation of people from different walks of life, and also featured pretty and intelligent young girls from the five communities that make up Mbanese, which is one of the three regional divisions in the Nnewi South Local Government Area.

These five communities that make up Mbanese are Ebenator, Osumenyi, Utuh, Ezinifite and Akwaihedi, from each of which spectators also trooped out to behold the event and also support/cheer up participants from their respective communities.

The event produced three winners who were decorated with different diadems and sashes according to their positions, namely: Miss Mbanese 2021 or Face of Mbanese (for the first position), Miss Mbanese Tourism 2021 (for the first runner-up), and Miss Mbanese Culture 2021 (for the second runner-up).

These beautiful winners who emerged from the highly contested beauty pageantry include Miss Okika Somma Happiness from Osumenyi who took the first position and was crowned Miss Mbanese 2021; Miss Chinwendu Okafor from Ebenator who took second position and was crowned Miss Mbanese Tourism 2021; and Miss Ezeutulu Chinwendu Marycynthia from Utuh who took third position and was crowned Miss Mbanese Culture 2021.

Speaking to newsmen, the Chief Executive Officer of Elephant Town Entertainment — the organizer of Miss Mbanese Beauty Pageantry, Engr. Jovita Melolo-Melata Jnr Ogboloagha (JMO) said the event was aimed at giving Mbanese girls opportunity and platform to showcase their beauty, intelligence, skills and talents while also empowering them and supporting their visions; promoting the cultural heritage of Mbanese and Ndi Igbo in general; promoting girlchild right and education; promoting brotherly love and inter-communal unity, while also promoting overall development of Mbanese.

He revealed that the 2021 Miss Mbanese Beauty Pageantry was held in memory of the 2019 winner of Miss Mbanese Tourism, late Miss Queen Evan Okoli who died of bre*st Cancer Tumour, even as he prayed for her soul to have peace repose in the bosom of the Lord.

He appreciated all who participated in this year's Contest and those who contributed in one way or the other towards the success of the event, even as he urged the participants who did not win in the Contest never to be discouraged, but to rather see it as a sisterly contest and a call to do better in the future, as each of them proved to have great potentials, as were manifested during the Contest.

While congratulating the winners on their victories, he reminded them that they are now role models to many, and advised them to uphold the integrity, royalty and dignity that go with their crowns and titles; to live the worthy lives expected of them; and to fulfill all they pledged to achieve with their crowns, while also impacting positively in the society.

Speaking to newsmen, the 1st Prize Winner in the Contest and Miss Mbanese 2021, Miss Somma Okika (from Osumenyi) appreciated God for her victory and lauded the organizers of the beauty pageantry and her fellow contestants.

On what she plans to do with the new crown and title, Miss Okika who is also a Nollywood Actress, said, "I will carry out some pet projects, part of which include giving out food and other things within my capacity to the needy, visiting some hospitals to pray for, encourage and financially support the sick, encouraging girlchild education, and positively impacting the Mbanese society in general, among others."

She advised her fellow contestants who did not win in the Contest never to feel demoralized, but to rather continue to try their fortune in other such contests, as tomorrow may be their own turn to win.

On her own part, the 3rd Prize Winner and Miss Mbanese Culture 2021, Miss Ezeutulu Chinwendu Marycynthi (from Okpo in Utuh) appreciated the host, the Elephant Town Entertainment for seeing value in organising such contest which gave them the opportunity to showcase their beauty, talent and intelligence and shine to the world.

Miss Ezeutulu, who is also a 400-level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, pledged to use her new position to promote Igbo language and culture (especially among youths and at various primary and secondary schools across the region), to fight against child abuse and maltreatment, source money from well-meaning individuals to finance the education of some indigent children, among other plans she has in stock.

The annual Miss Mbanese Beauty Pageantry which started in 2017 has grown to become one of the most reputed and prestigious beauty contests in the Nnewi South Local Government Area, in Anambra State and in the entire South-eastern Nigeria at large.