Entertainment
Nyekachi Douglas Dazzles At MBGN Pageant …Wins 2019 Crown
Although the 2019 edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria(MBGN) pageant has come and gone, the news of the glamours night of beauty, excitement, glitz, and razzmatazz that marked the event is still trending in the social media and amongst the society of fun lovers across the country.
The 32nd edition of the beauty pageant organised by the Silverbird group in partnership with the Bayelsa State Government and an international organisation was held on Friday, October 11,2019 at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenegoa and attracted a humongous audience, including the founder of Silverbird group, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, a constellation of stars from the show biz and the fashion world.
The 2019 MBGN attracted over 52,000 entries out of which 37 contestants representing the 36 States of Nigeria and Abuja emerged to contest for the crown of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) 2019.
Before the d-day, the contestants spent two weeks in camp and visited important places in the state such as the Steve Azaiki Public Library and Tulip Castle Hotel, they also participated in camp orientation fitness day and visit by the Bayelsa State Government.
The event night kicked off with the red carpet segment, while the pageant proper began as the hosts of the annual event mounted the stage. They were ace comedian, actor and producer, Bovi Yonina and Layole Oyatogu, actress, compere and media personality .
The 37 contestants were later paraded on stage for the first time where they mesmerized the audience with their catwalks, natural endowments and amazing beauty. This was followed by other appearances on stage for the choreography,traditional wear, swim wear and evening wear segments.
The award category followed next as winners emerged after the stage appearances. The winners were Miss Amity, Nyekachi Douglas (Rivers), National Costume, Michelle Nwagbara (Abia), Miss Photogenic, Folakemi Yunusa (Kwara), Best Talent, Temitope Are(Ogun), Face is Lush, Afuru Cynthia (Adamawa) and Best Evening Wear,Olutosin Araromi
This stage was marked by the fall of the judges hammer as 22 out of the 37 contestants qualified for the semi- finals. At this semi final stage, 10 out of the 15 semi finalists, were chopped and the Top 5 finalists emerged.
They were Nyekachi Douglas (Rivers), Akeela Ominu (Edo), Becky Ogene (Bayelsa), Olutosin Aroromi (Taraba) and Pamela Ifejioku (Abuja).
This final stage was the melting point of the well attended pageant.
The A-class judges, namely, Isoken Guobadia, Frank Oshodi, Richard Balogun, Tom Alazigha, Ebizi Ndiomu. Brown Precious Side-Duke and Olga Isvinkun Defreitas Cabral had a hectic time in selecting the winner of the highly contested crown as all the finalists were considered beautiful and enchanting.
The finalists were chilled at the end as a winner finally emerged as the judges unamionously declared Miss Rivers, Douglas as the 32nd MBGN queen, having defeated 36 other contestants.
Nyekachi was crowned amidst cheers and jubilation by the outgoing queen, Anita Ukah assisted by the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism Development and Entertainment, Senator Murray-Bruce and 2019 Mr. Nigeria, Nelson Enwerem.
The queen who also won the Miss Amity Award was rewarded with a brand new car, cash prize and other gifts. She will represent Nigeria at the 69th edition of Miss World pageant scheduled to hold at the Excel London, United Kingdom on Saturday December 14th 2019.
Other winners at the event were Olutosin Araromi (Taraba) MBGN Universe, Pamela Ifejiokie (Abuja), MBGN Tourism and Akeela Aminu (Edo) MBGN universe.
Nyekachi Douglas hails from Ibaa Community in Emohua Local Government Area (Emolga) of Rivers State. She is a free lance model based in America.
With her new crown, it is expected that she would not only be successful in her career, but will spread love, joy and confidence as she represents Nigeria in the global stage.
It would be recalled that the pageant was originally called Miss Universe Nigeria when it started in 1983, but gained attention where it was later changed to MBGN in 1984.
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”