A 17-year-old student of Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Stephanie Alfred from Delta, has won the “Face of 9ja” Beauty model competition in Badagry, Lagos.

Ms Alfred, a student of Economic and Statistics, beat 19 others to win the first edition of the competition, which took place on Sunday night at the Badagry Theatre, in Lagos.

Ms Alfred, who is 6.2ft tall, hails from Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.

Anuoluwapo Awe, 18, from Kogi, was the 1st runner-up while Memunat Amino, 20, from Edo State became the 2nd runner-up.

Ms Alfred went home with a cash prize of N200,000 and other consolation prizes, while the first and second runner-ups went home with consolation prizes.

Speaking earlier, the CEO of the 9ja Beauty Model, Sarah Ojehonmon, said the aim of the contest was to showcase the beauty of Nigeria’s culture, ethnicity, greatness and religion.

Ms Ojehonmon, who was the first runner up of Miss Culture Badagry 2021, said Nigeria has a lot to showcase to the world.

“These models are young Nigerians who are displaying the beauty of Nigeria to the world.

“We want to use this platform to reach out to the world that the 9ja beauty model is capable of changing, preaching to the world that Nigeria is beautiful.

“The winner of the contest today has a pet project to embark on and this is to empower physically challenged girls that cannot see or walk.

“These people have been neglected in the past forgetting that they can still be creative to help themselves and society,” she said.

She added that “This beauty pageantry is not gender-based, this is the first edition that’s why they are all females between the age 15 to 29, males can also be part of this pageantry for the subsequent contest.”

Also speaking, Jeremiah Aluya, General Manager 9ja beauty model, said “beauty pageantry or modelling is not all about coming on stage to show yourselves.

“It is more about what can be done as a male or female to help society because anyone that is impacting life is already a model,” he said.

(NAN)