Her Excellency the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio has said she has been to pageants but that she is convinced that the AYV Miss University Pageant is a different level of all.
The Management of the Africa Young Voices Media Empire accompanied the 8 contestants for the AYV Miss University 2023/24 to a curtesy call visit on Her Excellency the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio at her Goderich Office in Freetown.
The purpose of the visit was to get the first lady to engage the queens and inspire them on their journey to win the crown.
First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio warmly received the contestants while expressing humility and happiness for the honour given to her by AYV to host the Queens.
The meeting served as a platform for the First Lady to engage with the contestants, emphasising the significance of youth empowerment and female leadership in the nation.
Her Excellency reaffirmed her dedication to supporting initiatives that foster education, empowerment, and gender equality among young women in Sierra Leone.
She said: “A queen is not about lipstick or driving an expensive vehicle, but about serving your people well. Don’t ever let your dreams die; fight hard to achieve them. A queen is all about service to your people, be a slave and not a boss and should be ready to give back to your people. As a queen, be humble and respectful. What we are fighting for as women and girls is not to take over from our men folks, but to be allied to them.”
She thanked the Queens for being great ambassador for women, their Universities and communities as a whole, adding that her Office is currently pushing to create more opportunity for women and girls.
She further thanked the Management of AYV and expressed appreciation that the Company has been one of the biggest supporters of the Hands Off Our Girls campaign, while promising to grace the Miss University Pageant if it does not coincide with any important state arrangements for the independence celebration.
Cordelia Paul-Wright is AYV’s Deputy Director of Marketing and Brand. She thanked the First Lady for honouring the request from the Queens to visit her, while admiring her contributions locally and globally to promote and advocate for women and girls, especially through her Hands of Our Girls campaign.
Earlier, President of the National Union of Sierra Leone Students, Mohamed Rex Bhonapha introduced the Queens to the First Lady and described the AYV Miss University as the highest beauty pageant as far as university rank is concern.
Throughout the meeting, contestants shared their aspirations, hurdles and innovative ideas for advancing societal progress. Encouraging them to become catalysts for positive change, the First Lady urged the contestants to pursue excellence in both their academic endeavors and personal growth.
The session concluded with outgoing AYV Miss University 2022, Mariam Lobba Konneh, expressing profound gratitude on behalf of the contestants and management for the unwavering support and encouragement from Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio from the previous years.
The eight Queens, representing IPAM, FBC, UNIMTECH, COMAHS, Limkokwing, MMTU and UNIMAK, are contesting to win a brand new Suzuki Swift Car, qualify for the Miss University Africa, gain support from AYV to attend Miss University Africa and get One Year Paid Placement at AYV Media Empire.
The AYV Miss University 2023/24 Pageant, organised by the AYV and Africell in partnership with the National Union of Sierra Leone Students and Eminence Africa, will be broadcast live on AYV DSTv Channel 399 and live-streamed to audiences across the world.
Aside from having to relax and enjoy 8 universities reigning queens battling to win the crown at the AYV Miss University 2023/24 Pageant and festival, guests will also have to enjoy top guest artists currently making hits, including Driziliks, Kao Denero, King Boss LA and Melo Seven, amongst other Stars thrilling the stage with sweet and melodious performances.
The AYV Miss University 2023/24 Pageant and festival, organised by the AYV and Africell in partnership with the National Union of Sierra Leone Students and Eminence Africa, will be broadcast live on AYV DSTv Channel 399 and live-streamed to audiences across the world.
Who among the nine Queens will win the Crown, take home the brand new Suzuki Swift Car from Sharlimar Trading and represent Sierra Leone at Miss University Africa?
Get your tickets now at NLe100 for Ordinary or NLe150 at the gate and NLe200 for Premium or NLe300 at the gate. Call: +232 88 600917 or +232 90 075766 or use Vintex on: https://getventix.com/event/247817.
