21st November, 2022
By Raji Rasak
Stephanie Alfred, a 17-year-old student at Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, has won the “Face of 9ja” beauty model competition.
Alfred, an Economics and Statistics student, defeated 19 other contestants to win the first edition of the model competition, which took place on Sunday night at Lagos’ Badagry Theatre.
Alfred, who stands 6.2 feet tall, is from Delta State’s Brutu Local Government Area.
Miss Anuoluwapo Awe, 18, of Kogi, finished next, while Miss Memunat Amino, 20, of Edo, placed third.
Alfred received N200,000 cash prize as well as other consolation prizes, while the first and second runners-up also received consolation prizes.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the 9ja Beauty Model, Miss Sarah Ojehonmon said the aim of the contest was to showcase the beauty of Nigeria’s culture, ethnicity, greatness, and religion.
Ojehonmon, who was the first runner-up for Miss Culture Badagry 2021, said there are lots of things in Nigeria we need to show the world, adding that that was why they were here.
“These models are young Nigerians who are displaying the beauty of Nigeria to the world. We want to use this platform to reach out to the world and show it what the 9ja beauty model is capable of changing, preaching to the world that Nigeria is beautiful.
“The winner of the contest today has a pet project to embark on, and this is to empower physically challenged girls that cannot see or walk.
“These people have been neglected in the past, forgetting that they can still be creative to help themselves and society,” she said.
“This beauty pageantry is not gender-based; this is the first edition, so they are all females between the ages of 15 and 29. Males can also be part of this pageantry for the subsequent contest.”
Also speaking, Mr. Jeremiah Aluya, the General Manager, of 9ja beauty models, said: “Beauty pageantry or modeling is not all about coming on stage to show yourselves.
“It is more about what can be done as a male or female to help society because anyone that is impacting lives is already a model,” he said.
NAN