WINIFRED TAWIAH lighted the pages of history on the Ghanaian community in Italy as she won the Miss Ghana in Italy 2007 beauty pageant in Vicenza.

The 19-year-old biology student, resident in Mantova, surged forward from the line-up of contestants when the final result was announced and in tears of joy ‘milked’ the applause of the audience, blew them a kiss before getting herself seated to be decorated with the beauty crown by Charity Agyei-Amoama, wife of Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy.

As I followed her after the show off the stage she was still in ecstatic mood and repeatedly said; “I dedicate this crown to my mother, Deborah Darko, who has been so special to me I’m really excited, I tried to be myself, what I did on stage is what I am.

Winifred, a native of Kromantie in the Central Region of Ghana, said also she is grateful to God for being crowned Miss Ghana 2007 in Italy. “I think I deserve it, I know how to perform on stage, how to talk and deliver,” she added.

This was a beauty contest that lived up to expectation. The architectural design of the venue, the main auditorium of the Trade Fair site in Vicenza, was splendid, it was spotlessly clean with nothing out of place and that gave an early indication there was something in store to be unfolded.

Special guest of honour, His Excellency Charles Agyei-Amoama, Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy, was more than impressed. He used the occasion to extend sincere greetings from the President of Ghana, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour to all Ghanaians in Italy and briefed the audience on activities to officially end the anniversary celebration of Ghana’s 50th year of Independence in Italy to be hosted in Rome on 8th December.

Ghana’s gospel music new sensation, Psalmpong, based in Vicenza, has earlier ‘blazed’ the packed house with a couple of his songs and intermittently some other great Ghanaian artistes in Italy and a Nigerian performed.

Speeches in this pageant was kept to the minimum for what the audience came for was to see Ghana’s traditional values in its costumes, dancing and culture added to seeing its beautiful ladies.

And when the 19 contestants out of the expected 22 lined up for the beginning of activities there was not much to choose between them, they were all beautiful, have immaculate features with great legs and with the backing of the sounds of Ghanaian music blasting out of the gigantic loud speakers on stage there was an added flavour. All the invited guests paid their compliments to them, one of them jokingly remarked that he is already married but had he not and younger he would have made an approach after the show and that drew wild laughter from the audience.

The occasion was also graced with the presence of Samia Nkrumah, daughter of the first President of Ghana - Dr. Kwame Nkrukah - who was one of the judges. When her name was mentioned, it was like history being unfolded. One enthused fan from the stands blurted out; “we love you Samia”. Apparently he was echoing a point with special tribute to her late father, who led Ghana to Independence on March 6, 1957.

The judges took into consideration not only the facial beauty of each contestant but their ability to perform a talent show, their eloquence before the audience, stage control, greetings, dress combination, body contours and performance by answering questions, mainly on Ghana’s economic and social issues.

First, they appeared in a casual wear (jeans with a uniform T-shirt) one after the other then changed into a Ghanaian ‘kente’ with slit (‘kaba’ wear), then into beach costume followed by an evening wear. Gorgeously as they walked on the stage they received cheers from the audience as their majestic cat-walk was brilliantly captured by the camera lens of three TV stations – Rete Brescia TV (RTB), OBE TV and TV Vicenza – plus a host of cameramen from different media houses.

Beauty aside, they had to show their talent and as some gave out songs, others decided to recite poems whilst some took the time to act in a village scene in Ghana. Each one of them had something unique to display and they performed amazingly.

When it was time to come out with a decision based on points for each category it was tough for all five judges - Hon. Bartels-Kodwo (Minister of Consular Affairs at the Ghana Embassy in Rome), Felicia Bondzie (resident in London), George Nkwachung (Western Union Marketing Manager in Rome), Samia Nkrumah (based in Rome), Matteo D’Anzeo of A3 Cosmetics, Milan – but they couldn’t resist and had to come out with a winner.

Prizes were first awarded to each contestant and special prizes also went to the most photogenic, won by Gyamfua Panin, Ernestina Agyemang received the award for being the most elegant contestant whilst Myrtie Oforiwaa was adjudged the most eloquent of all the 19 contestants.

A tense atmosphere engulfed the hall as the MC - Eddie Osei Bonsu - began naming the positions from fifth to first.

Eithel France on the card of the judges placed 5th with 192 points, Sheila Doku got 196 points to place 4th, 2nd runner-up position went to Jennifer Asare Yeboah with 202 points and 1st runner-up with 210 points going to Mavis Owusu. Finally, it came to the wire for the 1st place: Miss Ghana in Italy 2007! The audience were kept in suspense for brief moments and when the number 21 with 224 points was mentioned, Winifred Tawiah’s name came on top and her fans rushed to cheer her up on the stage carrying her high.

With that another chapter has been added to the history of the Ghanaian community in Italy. The beauty of it all was how all the contestants from different cities across Italy interacted freely with one another before and after the competition as if they had known each other a long time. They knew one of them has to win, some of the spectators may have their own choice of the winner after an exciting 4 hours of glittering entertainment, but the judges had a different idea.

The event was hosted by the Council of Ghanaian Nationals Association in Italy (COGNAI) and sponsors were Aquimpex spa, manufactures of A3 Cosmetics, Western Union, Polo Expedition and BBC Services srl at Brescia.

The Master of Ceremony (MC) Eddie Osei Bonsu handling of the night’s proceedings was superb, there is no doubt great artistes as well as presenters are churning out of the Ghanaian community in Italy. I’m being told, Brescia, the city with the highest population of Ghanaians in Italy, is likely to take their turn to host the next beauty pageant in 2008.

List of contestants: Gyamfua Kakra (Milan) Gyamfua Panin –twins (Milan) Ernestina Agyemang (Vicenza) Ghartey Honeychild Gyamah (Modena) Deborah Agyemang (Parma) Winifred Tawiah (Mantova) Jennifer Asare Yeboah (Lecco) Ethiel France (Vicenza) Myrtie Oforiwaa Agyapong (Lecco) Mavis Owusu (Lecco) Sophia Afia Agyekum (Verona) Augustina Afriyie Yeboah (Verona) Yvette Aziange (Modena) Elizabeth Osei Akoto (Brescia) Maddalena Signoriello (Napoli) Patience Serwaa Opoku (Udine) Charlotte Nimako (Verona) Shiela Doku (Udine) Patricia Aboagyewaa (Treviso)

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