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UCHENNA WINS CARIBBEAN COMMONWEALTH CROWN
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FIRST NIGERIAN to win Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth "She wanted to win so badly that it hurt" says Shaherah Uchenna Obika, a 19 year-old student at Southampton Solent University, has won the 18th Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth contest in the theatre of the Polish Centre, Hammersmith, West London.
She is the first Nigerian ever to win the title, and the first winner to do so by way of a "tie-break" since the 6th Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth in 1986. Uchenna, who lives at Palmer's Green in North London, was recommended to the contest by J.M. Promotions (presenters of Miss ACS).
Hilda Agmebemiese, a 19 year-old Ghanaian student recommended by the Miss Malaika UK promotion, was second, and Patricia Reynolds, a 28 year-old payroll administrator from Colindale, Northwest London, who had qualified for the final on the strength of contest success in her homeland Botswana, was third. For the first time in the history of the contest - which has been dominated hitherto by Trinidadians and Jamaicans - African contestants took all three top places. Outgoing title-holder Shaherah Williams spoke with passion and eloquence about her prize trip to Ghana last autumn. Shaherah agreed with the judges' choice of her successor: "She wanted to win so badly that it hurt" Archbishop Dr Bancroft McCarthy declared open the promotion, which was commered by Esta Lumutenga (outgoing Deputy Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth) and former contestant Brenda Gabriel. The vocal entertainment included the United Christian Harmony Group, Angel J, Zika K, Ice T Cool and VocalZones. The Cips were sponsored by Tropical Connections, and prizes on the evening donated by Evoke luxury leatherware, Jewellery by Anne, Ethical Elegance, Shoe Lagoon and Ben Black Photography.
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