Dear readers, the reigning Miss Akwa Ibom, Queen Blessing Usen, is a huge inspiration to me. I always doff my hat for ladies who have carved a niche for themselves in positive endeavours via believing in God and dint of hard work. Brethren, yours truly is here to tell the story of a girl whom God has elevated from nothing to something, from zero to hero. Let me tell you the story of a girl who uses the little she has to impact positively on the populace. This Blessing Usen is indeed a phenomenon, a star whose light becomes brighter with each passing day.
She is petite but beneath that slight frame is a great mind. Her intellectual depth is amazing, and her knowledge of the scriptures can be compared to that of a full-time minister of the gospel. Queen Blessing took this reporter on a journey to yesterday. She later opened up about today as well as her future aspirations. Though this reporter wanted the interview to be brief but by the time it ended, my recorder indicated that we spoke for over two hours. There were no dull moments. And Queen Blessing made me feel like a king.
One thing that really struck me is the fact that she appeared very down to earth. Her demeanor portrayed her as a humble person who has not allowed fame to swell her head. This girl really deserves to be emulated. Girls of nowadays, I hope you are reading this.
To set the ball rolling, she introduced herself as Blessing Usen Effiong, a native of Ikot Akpan Obong Ide community in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, who graduated from University of Calabar where she studied Zoology and Environmental Biology. According to her, she is from a humble background. Her late father was a naval officer. Her mother is a retired teacher, who is into business now. She has three siblings. And it was interesting to hear that she has a twin sister.
She spared time to reflect on her growing up years. Verbatim: “I started my life as a young girl, who had a vision of where I am going to. I had always wanted to be a model all my life because I love drawing. I love designing too. I had a normal childhood. My parents were wonderful. I relish every memory of it.”
Next up, I wanted to know how the genesis of her modeling career. At this point, her face sparkled like diamond. I could decode the glee in her voice when she told me how it all started. Hear her: “It started back in the University of Calabar when I started undergoing modeling classes. I got to understand that I had to be a role model…But I did not have the opportunity of reaching out to people.”
Buoyed by the passion to serve, she joined theROTARACT club where a lot of community services were done, and she partook in them. This reporter is also aROTARACTOR. For those who may not know, ROTARACT was founded in 1968 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is a service, leadership and community service organization for young men and women between the ages of 18 to 30.
Speaking further, Queen Blessing let this reporter into how her first attempt to compete in a pageant was thwarted. Yes, in life, disappointment often sets in. A champion does not quit when the going gets tough. She demonstrated resilience and refused to bow out. Listen to this: “In March 2013, Miss Ibibio pageant in UNICAL was organised. I picked the form and joined the contest, but on the day of the pageant, I fell ill. It was a very devastating experience for me. Though I was disappointed, I later consoled myself with the fact that God knows better.”
Later in 2013, when she came back to Akwa Ibom, the modeling fire was still burning within her. There and then, someone told her mum that there was a Miss Ibiono contest to be held. When her mum informed her, she indicated interest. Guess what! She won.
As she talked about winning Miss Ibiono contest, I could sense the gratitude in her voice. And she confirmed my thoughts when she bellowed thus: “My people were very supportive, loving and caring.” She then reeled out a long list of people including Senator Bassey Albert, Paramount Ruler of Ibiono Ibom LGA, HRM (Dr.) Ime Udousoro Inyang; member representing Ibiono Ibom State constituency in the AKHA, Rt. Hon. Ime Okon; Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Iniobong Essien. Queen Blessing also reserved praises for members of her immediate family.
Of a truth, Queen Blessing was really fit and firing. She answered every question generously. The dexterity she displayed was simply breathtaking. Her angelic voice made the interview more interesting. She continued to highlight her progress on the pageantry ladder. “From Miss Ibiono, I represented Ibiono Ibom in Most Beautiful Girl In Akwa Ibom pageant. I was the first runners up, thus becoming Miss Uyo Senatorial District. I later went for Miss Gold Nigeria contest and won it as well. I really liked the Miss Gold pageant because it was all about the promoting the rights of the girl child…”
Dear readers, how this lady became the number one beauty queen in Akwa Ibom State is a story she alone can tell better. It is common knowledge that someone else was previously crowned. It was after the contest, that we knew that something was wrong somewhere. A non indigene was crowned as queen. The ‘wrong’ queen fought tenaciously to keep the crown. It was a fight between morality and immorality. On this, Queen Blessing had this to say: “Miss Akwa Ibom crown is meant for an Akwa Ibom girl child. Strictly for Akwa Ibomites. As a model or queen, you are not entitled to impersonation. You are not entitled to lies because you are expected to be a role model to people. Somebody else came out from Cross River State and pretended to be an Akwa Ibomite, trying to see how to manipulate the situation… God said Yes to Blessing Usen, that’s why I am Miss Akwa Ibom.”
And to the dismay of those who are of the opinion that beauty queens are not godly, Queen Blessing had a message for them. Hear her: “I am a born again child of God”, she declared in her trademark angelic voice.
She further frowned at the perceived exploitation of girls by organizers of poorly packaged pageants. Hear her: “That is not the essence of queenship. Queen Blessing Usen is different. The Miss Akwa Ibom brand which I am representing is different. I’ve chosen to take the right leadership to be who I am and where I am is out of conviction that I am still selling. As I am going higher, my future is important to me. There are things I ought not to be part of, not just as a beauty queen but as a girl child because I understand that people are looking up to me as a role model. It’s all about protecting my personality.
Most of the organizers should know that pageantry is a platform to groom girls, not exploit them. Do not fix things that cannot be realized into their heads. Pageant that a car is not feasible, tell them. Don’t deceive the girls, and make them do unwholesome things in that regard. The few queens that I mentor, I make them to understand that earthly riches and worldly goods should not be their priority.”
Talking about marriage, she opened up about her ideal partner: “Every woman wants to marry the love of her life. I need a person who is God fearing. Anything that you want in your life, if you seek it from God, you will have it.”
She is all about being a role model and putting smiles on the faces of people. In addition to the charity works she has been doing, she plans to “own a foundation to reach out to the unreached. To reach out to the girl child, the abused, the raped.” And her biggest fulfillment and happiest moment is when she hears kids say to her: “I wanna be a queen so that I will be going round schools to give pupils books like you.”
Queen Blessing is really an eye opener. She inspires. I was carried away when she revealed her philosophy about life. Hear her: “Be creative but don’t be competitive. You may be competing but lack creativity. Don’t let the competition be your priority. Let your creativity be the thing that is competing for you.”This is an advice I will cherish throughout my sojourn on earth.
Speaking further, she heaped praises on the Udom Emmanuel administration for the giant strides recorded so far. Conversely, she had an advice for the government. Verbatim: “I humbly call on government to revamp the tourism sector. We feel that there is nothing in there.
Through this sector, everything about us would be known. We have a rich cultural heritage. We have tourist sites here in this state. Things must change in the sector in line with theDakkada philosophy of the government. If revamped, tourism can rake up revenue like the oil sector. We should not depend wholly on oil. Diversification is very important.”
Queen Blessing had some advice for aspiring models: “To those aspiring to be models, I urge them to first of all realize if modeling is their passion. If yes, they should believe in God to guide them in taking the right decision in their careers. They should not cut corners. There is no shortcut to success.”
Truly, as I reflect on the Queen Blessing Usen’s pageantry journey, I give thanks to God because Him alone can pick a girl from a humble home and groom her to become a beauty queen to be reckon with. Truly, she has conquered, now she is setting her sights on the global stage where she plans to participate in the Miss United Nations pageant. Something tells me that this girl is the Agbani Darego of Akwa Ibom State. She can bring glory to us by winning international pageants. She has what it takes.
Interviewing her was fun. My face beamed with several watts of happiness. Nothing excites a reporter more than realizing that he has an interesting project to execute. Ask any journalist, things like this matter. As I left, I felt like a king courtesy of a queen named Blessing Usen Effiong.
*The full interview can be read on sites likewww.newsdayngonline.com,www.akwaibomvoice.com,www.naij.com etc. as well as in various tabloids –national and local*
(Ofonime Honesty is a journalist and public affairs commentator based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.honestyofonime@yahoo.com. 08025286082)
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