BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE
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| Ama waving to the audience after being crowned |
Arguably the most keenly contested edition since its inception three years ago, the curtain was finally lowered on the 2010 version (Season IV) of “Ghana’s Most Beautiful” (GMB) beauty pageant, with Ama, representing the Eastern Region going home with the coveted crown.
20-year-old Ama, whose full name is Nana Ama Agyeiwaa and hails from Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, made no secret of her intention to go home with the ultimate, when Season IV of Ghana’s Most Beautiful beauty pageant took off in August this year.
It thus came as no surprise, when on Sunday at the National Theatre, she was able to surpass the other three grand finalists – Bambi from the Central Region, Asibi from the Upper East Region and Chaana from the Upper West Region with 30.34%, to win the crown, KIA Picanto and cheque for GH¢5,000 among others, which were at stake.
Ama from the onset of the pageant 13 weeks ago, gave it her all in educating Ghanaians on the country’s rich culture in general and particularly making known what pertains in the region she represented – the Eastern Region, as regards festivals, resources that can be found there, child naming among others.
Comments from the two regular judges, Playwright Efo Mawugbe and fashion designer/CEO of Cadling Fashions, Linda Yaa Ampah, which went in her favour, were therefore not surprising.
In fact she became the toast of many viewers and patrons of the pageant that she added to her following during every episode, which culminated in her being adjudged as Ghana’s Most Beautiful woman of the moment, largely through texts.
It was very visible that patrons who were at the grand finale held at Ghana’s only National Theatre in Accra were not disappointed when Ama emerged the winner. As a matter of fact, placards displaying her picture were constantly waved amidst shouts whenever Ama took her turn on stage, during the over four-hour long beauty pageant that ended in the wee hours of Monday morning, by Ama’s friends and family who turned up to push her to the top.
When she was finally announced as the ultimate winner by co-host Kweku Temeng, after the second and third runners-up had been announced, Ama, who had hitherto been holding hands with Bambi to brace themselves for the final announcement, could no longer hide her tears, which flowed freely down her cheeks as she waved to the packed audience at the National Theatre.
23-year-old Bambi Bamfo, a graduate nurse of the University of Ghana, Legon School of Nursing who hails from Akyemfo in the Central Region, also distinguished herself so well and was able to take the second spot as the first runner-up, having garnered a little over 26%. She had as her prize, a GH¢4,000 cheque among other prizes.
The third or second runner-up spot was taken by 24-year-old Asibi Awemih from Zebilla in the Upper East Region, who was viewed as the most energetic of the finalists. She took home as her prize, GH¢3,500, two pieces of cloth a month from Nu-Style for a year, a hamper from sponsors – Cowbell, cultural ambassador package etc.
Fourth-placed or third runner-up Chaana Abdul- Razak, 24 and Psychology student of the University of Ghana, Legon, who managed to pull through eviction on a number of occasions during the pageant, was awarded with GH¢2,500, a hamper and piece of cloth every month from Nu-Style for a year.
Before the four grand finalists slugged it out for the ultimate, 24-year-old student of the Central University College, Emefa Celestine Torwogbede from Vakpo in the Volta Region and 22-year-old Linda Naa Ashiedua Anum-Tettey from Otublohum in the Greater Accra Region got evicted, largely for not giving a good account of themselves during the interview section and highlighting of the potentials of the regions they represented to investors and for low number of texts from their fans.
On the whole, though, they, like the other four contestants, distinguished themselves well in the other compartments that made the night.
The pageant was also spiced with music performed by various artistes including Joe aka "Humble Lion" of TV3 Mentor fame, Becca who did a song with the finalists, Slim Buster and his dancers.
Ghana’s Most Beautiful, which was initiated by TV3 in 2007, is a beauty pageant with a unique cultural attachment. It is an entertainment programme which is both informative and educative, which is why many Ghanaians devoted their Sunday nights to it while it lasted on television. The concept was derived in a bid to project the beauty of the Ghanaian woman and not to follow western beauty.
Within the pageant all the 10 regions of Ghana are represented and the selected 10 women are allowed to research on their regions to inform the general public weekly in a live presentation. Contestants with the fewest votes are voted out weekly.
The judges for the reality show comprised Efo Kojo Mawugbe, Linda Ampah and a guest judge who gave their comments on each performance, while Kweku Temeng and Naa Klordey emceed during the entire season.
Viewers were also required to vote their favourite contestants to MTN, Zain and Kasapa short code 1788 in order to keep them in the competition.
Efo Kojo Mawugbe has been a permanent judge since the inception of Ghana’s Most Beautiful reality show, the programme which has attracted a very large viewership in Ghana.
On the other hand, Linda Ampah’s contributions to Ghana’s Most Beautiful maiden edition brought lots of positive impact on the contestants. Due to her consistency, she was chosen again as a judge for Season IV of Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2010 pageant.
Her company, Cadling Fashions, aims for excellence in its field of work and she has lately added a children’s clothing line “Anjanique’s” and events planning to her schedule.
Joining in judging the contestants was Nana Abena Afriyie also known as Werempemhemaa of Bechem traditional area.
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| Bambi Bamfo was 2nd |
Past winners of GMB are Ama from the Central Region in 2007, the Greater Accra Region representative, Adoley in 2008 and Nasara from the Northern Region in 2009.
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| Asibi Awemih took third place |
Sponsors of the GMB included KIA Motors, Nu-Style and Cowbell Company.
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| Chaana Abdul- Razak came fourth |
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