“We will identify talents, train and mentor them before the competition,” says Dijah Kay in a Press Conference held at the Tourism Ministry’s Conference Room on Friday, and added that the winners from each school will compete in the inter-secondary beauty pageant for the crowning of Miss Western Area Senior Secondary School for 2017.
The theme for this year’s event will be centered on “consolidation, solidarity and a call for positive change rebranding of Sierra Leone and awareness amongst teenagers”.
The first phase of the project, according to Dijah Kay is expected to last for five months starting from March.
“With the right training and mentorship in the Sierra Leone Beauty Pageant for Senuior Secondary Schools, it will immensely help to divert the minds of young people from negative things and position their minds to focus on better options by Dijah Kay Production, which will make them become productive and result-oriented,” she said.
The winner in the semifinal round of the event will take home Le2million with a scholarship provided she passes her exams; the first runner-up will receive Le1million and the second runner-up receives Le500, 000. The event seeks to have nine finalists where the winner will receive Le5million and a year scholarship with tuition fees depending she passes her exams; the first Runner-up gets Le2.5million and a laptop; the Second Runner-up will receive Le1million and a laptop; others will receive certificates for participation.
Joseph S. Thornton is the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. He informed journalists that pageantry is a baby of his Ministry, hoping that it will be replicated in other districts across the country. The Sierra Leone Beauty Pageant for Senior Secondary School, he said will be a base for future pageantry and will help Young Beauty Queens to represent Sierra Leone in international competitions. Mr. Thornton assured of the Ministry’s support to develop beautiful ladies the country will be proud of.
A representative of Lemount Secondary School said the event will change the outlook of pageantry in the country. “It is part of our art and culture and away to showcase it in society amongst young women and girls,” Renner said, and added that it will show beauty count, and can be used as an addition to the academic outlook of the contestants.
