Posted by By TONY OGAGA ERHARIEFE on
The hall was jam-packed. The crowd screamed with frenzy as floodlights crisscrossed the stage. The two finalists stood stiff, like mannequins in a fashion shop.
The hall was jam-packed. The crowd screamed with frenzy as floodlights crisscrossed the stage. The two finalists stood stiff, like mannequins in a fashion shop.
And then, the judge's shrill voice rang out… 'our winner is contestant number seven." The hall erupted in applause. Miss Maureen Emenalom, contestant number seven, new Miss Malaika, 2005, broke down and wept. Cameras flashed and Journalist descended on her with a barrage of questions.
In an exclusive chat with Sunday Sun, Emenalom, Nigeria's new Miss Malaika who was crowned pen-ultimate Saturday at the Temperance Hotel, Otta, Ogun State, recounted what went through her mind during those tension-soaked seconds that seemed to stretch of forever before she was declared winner of Africa's most prestigious beauty pageant: 'I couldn't think. I just stood there knowing I was just one step away from winning or loosing. That was the longest moment of my life. My heart raced like a horse at the racetracks. When my name was announced, I broke down and shed tears of joy."
'I am overwhelmed by the experience. I knew I had what it took from the outset but tasting the victory was a whole different experience. I kept praying that God should help me be the best I could be.
I wouldn't have believed it if I had been told that I would be Miss Malaika a few months ago."
According to her, the only regret she has is that her mum whom she says taught her hard work and to believe in herself, was not alive to share the moment with her: 'I dedicate this crown to my late mum who is not here today. She would have been very proud of me. I inherited my beauty from her. Other contestants had their mums there to cheer them to victory; my mum was not there. She died in 2000 after a brief illness.
'I was just 15 when she passed on. It was sad. I lost my mum when I was growing up and needed her to impart some things to me. But I had a loving dad and family that made sure I never felt the vacuum."
She said that when she came across the pageant on the internet last year, she was not really interested but her sister had encouraged her: 'I went to a cyber café, did some research and decided to give it a shot. I was impressed after I read the history and objectives of the pageant. I knew it was something I would like to identify with."
'My friends have been calling me and sending me text messages. Its been a wonderful experience. I am looking forward to a successful reign."
By clinching the crown, the native of Imo State has won for herself a salon official KIA car for a year and N500, 000 cash. She would also represent Nigeria at the Miss Malaika International Beauty Pageant in South Africa in December 2005.
She talks about what she intends to do with her cash gift: 'A substantial part would go to charity. Of course, there is also my education. I intend to invest in my education because I believe it is the greatest tool any one could have."
The 300 level student of Political Science from Imo State University says that when she got to camp where all the eighteen pageant were camped for a week sequel to the event proper, she was amazed at the calibre and beauty of the girls she saw: 'I was almost intimidated. These girls were pretty and intelligent. I said to my self, ‘what am I doing here.'"
However, rather than be discouraged, she determined to give the pageant her best. Today, that effort has made her Miss Malaika, Nigeria.
Early years
The road to Miss Malaika began years ago albeit stylishly when she won a state wide beauty pageant for secondary schools in Imo state. 'The experience gingered me up. It gave me a lot of confidence and I determined that one day, I would participate in an international beauty pageant. I wanted to be a beauty queen."
On her new fame and Miss Malaika International Pageant which comes up in December, 2005: 'Now I am a Queen, I still have to behave myself. I would be myself because a great responsibility has been put on my shoulders. A lot of young people look up to me for guidance. I should set a good precedence. I want to remain a nice and warm person.
'I will love to appeal to Nigerians for their support in South Africa. Having come this far, I believe I have what it takes. I am preparing for the event already. I have been listening and learning."
Advice for wannabes
' Believe in yourselves and the sky would be your limit. Get education; it is power."
Mission
'I shall devote my reign to women issues and children. I am talking about empowerment, enlightenment. Plans are already in the works for a talk show. I want to set up a pet project that would address social issues.
However she says: 'I will combine education with my duties as Miss Malaika. I will not interrupt my education."