Twenty three year old Neurite Mendes from Angola on Sunday emerged winner of the maiden edition of Miss Africa beauty pageant organised by the Cross River State government.
She defeated 17 other contestants, carting home a Sport Utility Vehicle and a cash prize of 25,000 dollars at the grand finale which took place at the prestigious Calabar International Convention Centre.
Refilwe Mthimunye of South Africa was the first runner-up while Jencey Anwifoje of Cameroon was the second runner-up.
They carted home 15,000 and 10,000 dollars respectively.
The event made box office record with over 365 million people watching it on television.
Cross River State governor and initiator of the pageant, Prof Ben Ayade, stressed the need for Africans to go beyond culture and tourism by deepening their knowledge of science and technology.
His words:
“This Africa beauty pageant is a journey to climate change which today is a big challenge globally. That is why Cross River State people knowing full well that we hold 58 percent of the entire forest map of Nigeria and by extension Africa, made the choice of the theme which is, “Green economy, a tool for sustainable development” for the world to know that Africa generates less emissions yet bears the brunt of industrialization.”
