Zambian wins Face of Africa competition
Posted by Mir Javed Rahman on Feb 8, 2010, 07:53
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LAGOS: Zambia's Lukando Nalungwe on Saturday emerged the winner of this year's Face of Africa competition held in Nigeria's commercial port city of Lagos.
The event was hosted by African television entertainment company M-net, and was attended by Nigerian politicians and a number of African celebrities.
"I don't we don't believe this is a beauty pageant, I guess this is competition, so it is very different from a beauty pageant so, there was not controversy, there was no conflict," said Biola Adekanbi, Director M-net Africa.
Eight years ago the country's bid to host the Miss World contest was mired in controversy. Islamic groups were angered by the event being hosted in a country where Muslims make up around half the population, while contestants from several countries pulled out in protest over a Nigerian Sharia court's decision to sentence a woman who gave birth to a child outside wedlock to death by stoning.
The Face of Africa competition has in the past jump started the careers of many young African women in the world of fashion and modelling.
The final 10 contestants were unveiled at the final event on Saturday evening where Nalungwe emerged victorious.
Nalungwe said her success only came after her continued persistence to be a part of the competition.
"I started trying when I was 17 years old, Face of Africa crew came to my country, I tried it, I couldn't make it, the following year again I tried, unfortunately I wasn't lucky again. Then after two years they came back to my country, I was 19, I tried again, I could make it, never gave up, I always told myself go for it...and finally they came to my country last year and then unfortunately just the previous night before I was picked to represent my country my little brother past away," said Nalungwe.
Nalungwe, 22, is currently studying business administration in Kabwe, Zambia.
Aside from winning 50,000 U.S. dollars and an international modelling contract, Nalungwe will also takes home wrist watches, a laptop and more money for shopping.
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