The Anambra State-born queen, who is also an
entrepreneur, is the originator of Ama Shoes, a shoe brand that she says would
play a great role in providing foot wears for the under-privileged children.
In this interview, Chukwurah equally talks about her pet
project, Connecting Smiles, which focuses on assisting women and youths.
As an Ibo lady, what motivated you to contest Sisi Oge of
Africa beauty pageant?
Sisi Oge of Africa pageant aims to promote African
values, culture and identity regardless of ethnicity. It’s open to everyone
regardless of your state of origin, so my tribe has got nothing to do with it.
Over the years, the pageant has produced nine beauty queens before me and if
you look at the demographics of these beauty queens, you’ll realise majority of
them are not from Yoruba land.
Who talked you into the pageant?
When I heard of the pageant through a friend, my mind
wasn’t made up, and to be frank, I was really reluctant. My mum gave me the go
ahead to apply and I made a quick decision that if I wanted to be part of it, I
had to win. My mum gave me confidence with her prayers and support. She was
that voice that gave me the push. That encouragement was what I held on to even
while we were in camp and luckily my dream came true. Twenty of us contested
the pageant.
You said your mum is a clergy, would you want to follow
her footsteps later in life?
I don’t think it’s for me to decide. That is a total
calling from God. But right now, I’m a chorister in my church.
My mum taught me to be a strong woman. That’s one thing
that I wish to be. She has been through a lot of things but despite that she’s
still herself. She has not gone into depression thinking God is not with her.
Life hasn’t made her not to be the good person that she is.
What about your dad?
He is late.
You have an enviable physique. Have you always been a
model?
I have done runway and photo shoots, TV com- mercials for
MTN as well as for Hollandia before Sisi Oge pageant. I also featured in ‘10
Days In Sun City’, a movie produced by comedian Ayo Makun (AY).
Aside modeling, did you ever attend a grooming school?
Not really, but my mum used to be a fashion designer.
She’s been telling me what to do at any particular point in time. Maybe I
should call her my coach, as she advises me on what to do, what not to do, what
to wear and what not to wear. For instance, I wear African prints a lot even
before Sisi Oge pageant. My mum doesn’t believe in long weaves but she likes me
to look very Af- rican in my dressing, and we had no inclination that one day,
I would take part in the pageant.
What made you stand out to win the crown?
I put in my best. I said the things I needed to say on
point. I think everything just worked in my favour. Be- ing intelligent also
helps during a time like this.
Do you have any beauty routine?
I try to eat early enough and drink a lot of water. I eat
vegetables and I exercise about two, three times a week.
How’s your project, Connecting Smiles, different from
other empowerment programmes around?
Connecting Smiles is a beautiful platform for me to reach
a lot of people, put smiles on their faces, empower them, make them look inward
and not be dependent. In- stead they should aim to be employers of labour. I
want to embark on entrepreneurship and skill acquisition programmes where young
ladies and women would acquire knowledge they need to improve themselves. A lot
of empowerment programmes are out there but don’t amount to much because they
don’t understand the needs of the people and don’t know the right people to
empower. My first approach would be to identify these people the connecting way.
We all have to put our hands together and do something to assist our youths,
and we have been able to identify them. Whether we like it or not, all of us
cannot work in the bank or offices. With our pride and our heritage, we want to
correct miscon- ceptions about life and living. We need to bring back our lost
values. Some of our young ladies are not ready to work; they believe N100,000
monthly salary is not enough, but they should look at what they could do in the
long term with their hands and become employers of labour.
You are three months on the throne, what have you done
since you won?
The last Children’s Day event was one of my focuses. I
organised children and entertained them. I advised and encouraged them and made
them smile. They were so happy being around me and they tell me ‘Auntie, you
look really African, we love your dressing’; you know, children are fascinated
with beauty queens. They were so happy.
You won a KIA car, has your lifestyle changed in any way?
I have traveled to Dubai and the United Kingdom as
Ambassador of Africa after the pageant. I’ve honoured invitations to events
too. I’m very careful these days.
Any advice for ladies who want to be a queen like you?
Be sure that this is what you want to do. It’s a lot of
hard work but be confident, make sure you are intelligent and the sky will be
your limit.
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