Miss Bridget Nwachi travelled all the way from Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakiliki to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to partake in the just concluded Miss VIP beauty pageant.
A student of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nwachi, who hails from Afikpo North Local Government Area, was optimistic that she would clinch the crown.
She wanted to make Ebonyi, the state she came to represent in the competition proud. But Nwachi was disappointed. The pageant, she said, lacked all the competitive trappings such events was supposed to have.
In fact, there was no competition and the organisers could not live up to their promises. Nwachi couldn’t even make top ten in the event that was held at the Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.
Nwachi, a former presenter on Radio Nigeria, Unity FM, after the event located the office of the Niger Delta Report in Yenagoa to narrate her ordeal. Narrating her experience in camp, Nwachi who described herself as a creative, enthusiastic and fun-loving model, said the pageant was a rip-off.
When asked why she could not make the top 10, she said: “It did not just happen. They gave us a task and I was not able to meet up the task. They asked us, the contestants, to sell tickets and raise N100,000 each.
“I really believe the selection was just for the ticket money. The first top 10 was selected from the persons who sold the highest tickets. So, it was just the people that realised the highest amount of money that they really chose. That was how they chose the top 10.”
She disclosed that persons who could not sell the tickets were compelled to look for the money and pay to the organisers. She insisted that the top positions were bought with money and that the crown was given to the highest bidder.
“I met very nice ladies but some saw me as a threat to them because I got the highest vote on Facebook. They felt l had money to pay for the crown. Some thought l came with N450,000 or N500,000. So, they were just striving harder to meet up.
“They asked me, I told them I only came with N20,000. But they never believed me because they felt it was all about money. I didn’t really believe in that.
“I believe l came for competition and to do my best. I believe when you want to crown somebody, it should not be because of money. Let it be for the qualities you saw in that person.
“I feel sad because l did everything that l was supposed to do, especially at the prejudgment day. I demonstrated that l possessed all the qualities required of a VIP Queen. The only thing l did not do was to buy the crown and that is my offence.
“I ventured into modeling in 2010 when I registered with an agency in my state. It is called Sodofaces Agency. But they were not really that serious. I just had to leave.
“I have worked with Green Blaze in my state. I have helped to organize shows like Face of Ebonyi, South-East Super models. Honestly, I have not being involved in any pageantry show.
“This Miss VIP is just the first pageant show I have ever involved myself in because I needed to get the experience and I got it to fullest. I gave it my best.
“I am optimistic of getting contracts from here. The next thing I am thinking is either Gulder Ultimate Search or Big Brother Africa. I don’t really like pageantry. I just needed to try this one to get the experience, so that if am asked to host my own, I will know the mistakes.
“For the Miss VIP, some people were sentimental because of money. My role model is Genevieve Nnaji. We share the same life interest. If only you believe, you can achieve it. No matter the circumstance I find myself. I know I have some qualities that no one else will ever get.”
Nwachi further called for proper regulation of pageantry shows to avoid using them as opportunities to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
But Pflamez Entertainment, the firm that organised the show, said Nwachi was complaining because she failed to win the crown. The Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr. Preye Okorowanta, who spoke to Niger Delta Report, said all the participants were aware of the conditions and acceded to them before the competition.
He said: “I guess everyone has their own opinion. We made our process clear even before the event. We told them that their fan base would determine their positions in the competition.
“The VIP thing is like a popularity thing. We couldn’t regulate it by just selling tickets at the gate of the venue. We decided that their chances would depend on the number of tickets they sold.
“They did that. But probably at the long run, she didn’t make it. She started complaining against the whole process.”
