Sixteen young beautiful women with the potential to serve as a role model dedicated to upholding environmental advocacy within the country have been unveiled to battle for the crown of the prestigious Miss Earth Nigeria beauty pageant.
The 16 earth beauties, unveiled during a press conference and welcome party on Thursday July 25 at Chaka Resorts, Eleko Beach in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, were short-listed among thousands of applicants and welcomed to the camp house with a short ‘Darling of the Press’ contest.
They presented their various earth advocacies and graced the evening with their beauty to the delight of everyone present.
The ladies will battle for the ultimate crown at the grand finale holding on August 3 at the Mega 1 Events Place, Lekki, Lagos.
The International pageant annually convened by former beauty queen and immediate past president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ms Ibinabo Fiberesima, in its 17th year is a test for beauty, brilliance, elegance, selflessness and environmental friendliness.
Speaking at the event, Nollywood giant, Mr. Zeb Ejiro commended the organisers of the pageant and expressed satisfaction at quality of ladies shortlisted for the grand finale of the contest.
“There are so many beauty pageants all over the world but Miss Earth is unique because of the theme; ‘It’s a call to help the earth’. It is different. These ladies here are very lucky. I’ve been in the movie industry for many years and I’ve worked with so many beautiful women of different shapes and sizes but I must confess that I am pleased with what I am seeing here. I find it hard to choose a darling of the press and anyone that wins tonight deserves it because all of you are qualified to be the media face of this pageant. All of you are brilliant and I’m proud of you all. I’d plead with you to carry on the advocacy whether or not you win this contest so that we all can save the world together,” Ejiro, fondly called The Sheikh, said.
Gwen Ifeanyieze, 21-year old contestant from Enugu State, emerged the ‘Darling of the Press’, with a winning prize and photos opportunities with the gentlemen of the press.
Miss Earth Nigeria is the Nigerian chapter of the international Miss Earth World pageant.
It is one of the three largest pageants all over the world and is measured by the number of times they have contested in the world finals.
Contestants at the World stage will battle for the top four spots to represent the four main elements of the world: Water, Air, Fire and Earth with the aim of promoting environmental awareness.
Miss Earth pageants strongly believed in being socially responsible for our immediate environment, unlike other pageants that raise queens. It believes in raising ambassadors that will pioneer sustainable development in their environments.
The four winners of Miss Earth Nigeria pageant will re-contest to bring out the overall winner who will be seen as the environmental Earth warrior and ambassador and will represent the country at international level.
The beauty contest will feature a series of awards such as Best in a creative outfit, Miss Photogenic, Miss Talent and Miss Friendship.
On September 8, 2018, Maristella Okpala, a model, dental technologist and a licensed cabin crew, was crowned as the winner of the 2018 Miss Earth Nigeria Beauty Pageant.
She represented Nigeria at the 2018 Miss Earth International contest held in Manila, Philippines in November 2018.
