Mariatu Kargbo wins Miss Sierra Leone 2009

By Ibrahim Babatunde Sesay, Freetown.

Sierra Leonean International super star, Mariatu Kargbo who is based in China has been crowned MISS SIERRA LEONE 2009 at the annual Madam Yoko Entertainment premier beauty pageant contest on Saturday June 13, 2009, at the prestigious Family Kingdom, Aberdeen, Freetown.

The succulent 5ft 8inches tall beauty queen won the minds and hearts of the judges who polled the highest scores after putting up an extra ordinary performance that turned the entire hall in ecstasy.

The fair complexion beauty queen demonstrated her talent with an acrobatic display that sent the entire audience into ecstasy. She collected well over five million Leones on stage while displaying her talent in the competition.

“I have never seen a queen demonstrate like this,” one fan who witnessed the unprecedented contest stated.

Speaking to this reporter after her coronation, Mariatu Kargbo said her dream had become true after. “I have prepared myself for the past two years when I saw Sierra Leone do badly in the 57th MISS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in SANYA (China).

She appealed to her fellow contestants to work with her with open mind so as to put the country on the world beauty map. “We all are winners and we should work with each other to help the girl child,” she said with a smile.

She added that she will do her best to ensure that needy children in the street are cared for. She further pledged to join the fight against malaria which kills more people than HIV/AIDS.

Eight elegant Sierra Leone beauty queens took part in the event including Ramatu Wurie - winner of Miss Independence 2008; Haja Fanta Bah - winner of Miss Southern region 2009; Christiana Ellie - winner of Miss Paddy’s 2008; Patricia Brenda Kamara; Emma Turay; Lauretta Y. Simeon; Hawanatu Samura and International super queen, Maria Kargbo who jet in from China for the contest.

The show was featured a unique, fantastic and classical performances with a jam-packed hall that gave patrons a new lease of life.

Maria Kargbo who was crowned Miss World Sierra Leone 2009 will receive $3,000 plus a round trip to South Africa. The first runner-up, Ramatu Wurie bagged $1,500 plus a consolation prize whilst the second runner-up, Haja Fanta Bah took home $1,000.

Also, there were consolation prizes given to all the other contestants.

Last year’s winner, Miss Tyrillia Gouldson who represented Sierra Leone at the Miss World Pageant in Johannesburg, South Africa did not show up to crown her successor, Maria Kargbo.

Madam Yoko Entertainment, in selecting the contestants for this year’s Miss Sierra Leone, held regional contests in Bo for the entire Southern Region; in Kenema for all the Eastern regional queens and in Bombali for all beauty queens from the Northern Region.

In an exclusive interview with this reporter, after the show, the Executive Director of Madam Yoko Entertainment, Mr. Sida Ansumana Mansaray said that his entertainment entity felt honoured to work with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Dr. Kargbo of the National HIV/AIDS Office to organize such a wonderful event in the country.

“We promised and we shall deliver. We will make the winner represent Sierra Leone in the forthcoming Miss World annual premier beauty pageant scheduled to take place on the 12th of December, 2009 in South Africa.

The rationale behind this move is to put Sierra Leone on the global culture map. “Sierra Leone stands to benefit a lot from this year’s Miss World pageant,” he noted.

He extended profound thanks to the government of Sierra Leone, the First and Second Ladies of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Minister of Tourism and Culture Hon. Hindolo Sumanguru Trye, who stood firm to ensure that this year’s Miss Sierra Leone pageant was a huge success. Below is a short profile of all the contestants that took part in the competition.

MISS SIERRA LEONE 2009 PROFILE

Contestant No.1

Name: Maria Kargbo

Date of Birth: 13TH May 19 1985

Address: 13 Cornhill Street Freetown, Wellington

Education: Fifth form

Hobbies: Singing Dancing and Modeling

Height: 5ft 8 inches

Achievement: 2004

Why do you want to Contest? I have got what it takes to represent my country.

Contestant No. 2

Name: Ramatu Wurie

Date of Birth: 31st January 1986

Address: 18 Charles Street

Education: Tertiary Level

Hobbies: Reading and Modeling

Height: 5ft 9 inches

Achievements: Winner of Miss Secondary School 2005, Winner of Miss Wilberforce 2005, Winner of Miss Independence 2008.

Why do you want to Contest? With beauty, the brain makes me to be interested, I BELIEVE THAT I POSSESS ALL THE QUALITY TO BE THE QUEEN OF SIERRA LEONE 2009 AND I HAVE THE TALENT TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. ALSO, I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR MY COUNTRY ON THE MALARIA DISEASE WHICH IS AFFECTING OVER 75% OF THE COUNTRY’S POPULATION.

Contestant No 3

Name: Haja Fanta Bah

Date of Birth: 14th September 1990

Address: 4 Yakai Street New site Bo

Education: Certificate BECE (SSS2)

Hobbies: Singing and Modeling

Height: 5ft 9inches

Achievement: Miss Southern Province 2009

Why do you want to Contest? Because I want to be Miss Sierra Leone AND I WANT TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY IN THE FORTHCOMING MISS WORLD BEAUTY PAGEANT CONTEST IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Contestant No. 4

Name: Brenda Patricia Kamara

Date of Birth: 7 June 1986

Address: 1 Peter Lane

Education: Student

Hobbies: Dancing, Reading and Watching movies

Height: 5ft 8 inches

Achievement: Twice runner up Miss Paddy’s

Why do you want to Contest? I want to become Malaria Ambassador to sensitize people about the disease and to represent my country not only at Miss World but also worldwide.

Constantant No. 5

Name: Emma Turay