National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Tayo Olanipekun
Recognition of the beauty and intelligence of Miss Oyo, Funmike Lagoke, has taken several knots higher as the beauty pageant has now been crowned Miss Nigeria USA for 2019 over the weekend.
She won the coveted crown ahead of 16 other finalists in an event held at Kumble Theatre, Brooklyn, New York, while Tracy Ekenavie, Miss Abia and Zenas Okanlawon, Miss Ondo, trailed as first and second runners-up respectively.
Other beauty queens that made the final stage included Miss Abuja, Miss Anambra, Miss Delta, Miss Ebonyi, Miss Ekiti and Miss Niger. The rest are the beauty pageants representing Edo, Osun, Rivers, Enugu, Imo, Lagos and Ogun.
The contestants were chosen based on their passion and stage presence, according to the organiser of the event, Joy Fakhoury, who expressed her satisfaction over the outcome of what she described as a great show.
The all-female panel of judges for the event included the Head of Inclusion and Diversity, H&M, Ezinne Kwubiri; a TV Host, Makho Ndlovu; Professor of Global Affairs and Politics, Dr. Yetunde Omede; Miss Missouri, USA 2017, Bayleigh Dayton, and Brand/Style Influencer, Chinyenum Amadi.
“I am excited about this new journey I’m about to embark on and I can’t wait for the work to begin,” Lagoke told our correspondent after her crowning.
Preparatory to the event, the then Miss Oyo had opened a Gofundme account where she intended to raise $5,000 to support her campaign and also made known her intention to promote Performing Arts in Education with the platform.
“The ARTS must stay alive within the school systems. Our culture is full of many talented young people and we must support them and make sure they believe that their dreams can come true,” she said.
The fundraiser platform, however, indicated that the new Miss Nigeria was only able to raise $135 from five persons in 19 days.
