MNI pageant debuts to rebrand Nigeria’s image abroad

It is, indeed, a tale of “to whom much is given, much is expected”, as Vanessa Ekeke, former Miss Commonwealth Nigeria, is giving back to the country and industry that produced her with the maiden edition of Miss Nigeria International (MNI), an image rebranding platform in the diaspora.

MNI is an empowerment pageant, scheduled for May 26, 2018 at the prestigious Carlson Family Stage, Northrop Theater, University of Minnesota, USA and would be featuring about 36 Nigerian contestants from different countries around the world.

Contestants will, however arrive Minneapolis on May 22 and remain at the designated accommodation during the week of the pageant for training and rehearsals.

Addressing a press conference this week, Vanessa said MNI would be running on a platform of empowerment to empower women beyond beauty. “We are using the platforms of education, skills and entrepreneurship to rebrand the image of Nigeria in the Diaspora.

“One thing that makes us different from other pageants is the fact that a lot of our team members are products of the pageantry industry and also, fashion and entertainment industry.

“For us, we’re not in this to make money or for show, we are in this to give back to the community and industry that produced our different personalities. So it’s a form of community involvement.

“We chose the month of May to host our pageant specifically because it is the month when most of our contestants, who happen to be undergraduate students in various universities, are usually on vacation or summer break.

“A total of 24 contestants will be competing for the event and will be coming from different part of the world.”
She added that they are still in the screening process and accepting more applications with very strict selection criteria.

“We are really out to make a significant difference in the lives of this young women. “We have a mental program that is also inculcated as part of the activities the girls will be having during the week of the pageant.”

MNI national spokesperson and second edition winner of Miss Commonwealth Nigeria, Nkem Ituludiegwu, said the pageant is like no other, as the team of organisers are professionals who know the drill by virtue of achievements and experience.

“We have MNI founder, Vanessa Ekeke, who happened to be the winner of Miss Commonwealth Nigeria maiden edition, Nena Jones, an international lawyer as our legal consultant, Marian Ebe, a former beauty queen, Leah Adegbesote is our Public Relations Manager, Kabari Esaen is our Fitness Coach, Edi Lawani is Chief Adviser, Barb Davies –White as President, Advisory Board and Kenneth Ehi-Choya as Production and Technical Director.

“So it going to be an organised and well-structured pageant that would redefine Nigeria’s image in the Diaspora” she declared.