By Sahr Ibrahim Komba
32news
Eminence Africa in collaboration with Lake Production gave a cash prize of One Thousand Five Hundred New Leones (NLe150, 000) to all the contestants that participated in the just concluded 2022 Miss Freetown Beauty Pageant. This landmark event took place at the Eminence Africa Conference Room at Pademba Road in Freetown on the 9th of January 2023.
The star prize for the winner was One Hundred Thousand New Leones (NLe100, 000) including 50 Million Leones in Service as listed: Eventful Make up, Monthly Hairdressing (12 months), Monthly Salary (12 months), a Four (days) vacation to Ghana including tickets, hotel and feedings, 6 months internet subscription worth $500, Financial incentive for all 6 contestants, an annual branding support on all her social media platforms.
The 1st Runners Up bagged Le 15 Million + 6 months internet subscription worth $500 and the 2nd Runners up Le 5 Million + 6 months internet subscription worth $500 with a Grand Total of
Le 150,000 Grand Prize for the winner and 1st and 2nd runners up and cash consolation prize for 6 contestants.
Speaking at the program, the Executive Director of Eminence Africa, Sarah Laura Solomon, expressed gratitude to the Mayor of Freetown Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr for making the event a success. She disclosed that she is very passionate about entertainment and that she cares about making impact in the lives of girls
She said the ladies maintained a high level of professionalism and they were willing to help each other while in the house. She urged them to be open-minded, grab opportunities and make impacts, adding that Eminence Africa will be available to help them promote their projects in the near future. She also said that the process was transparent.
Sarah Solomon disclosed that Eminence Africa will give the winner a cash prize of Fifty Million Leones Old Notes (Le50, 000,000) and the remaining Fifty Million old Leones (Le50, 000,000) will be for supporting her project, six months of free internet service among other things. ’Eminence Africa is here to rebrand pageantry in Sierra Leone,’ she said.
The winner, Miss Brookfields, a twenty year old student at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone stated that she participated in the contest because she wanted to change the negative perception people have about pageantry.
She maintained that she was really excited to be part of the contest and emerged as the winner. She continued that the event was challenging, noting that she was the youngest in the competition. She expressed thanks and appreciation to her manager, her family and well-wishers for supporting her dream. ‘’I will use this platform to inspire young girls in Sierra Leone,’ she noted.
Speaking during the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Lake Production, who also doubles as the CEO of Miss Freetown Limited, Alhaji K Tarawallie aka LAJ K, intimated that what they are doing is important because it will help to rebrand Pageantry in Sierra Leone.
According to him, the process was credible and very transparent with the winner emerging out of consensus from the audience.
LAJ K commended the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyer for her tremendous support towards the success of the Miss Freetown Beauty Pageantry and also commended Executive Director Mrs. Solomon for giving back to young people after winning the Miss Sierra Leone few years ago.
He revealed that giving cash prizes to all the contestants has never happened in the history of pageantry in the country. He said that the ladies were hosted for seven days prior to the contest and they were well-mentored by experts in Pageantry.
The father of the winner who is also a lecturer at FBC, Mr. Ansumana Abdulai, expressed thanks and appreciation to Eminence Africa and Lake Production for giving such a wonderful privilege to his daughter. According to him, the process was transparent, adding that he will be the lead campaigner in convincing parents to start allowing their children to participate in pageantry as the narrative about it has been changed. Pageantry is important because it helps young girls to identify their talents.
