MISS CEDEAO / ECOWAS 2013 WINNER IS CAPE VERDE'S CRISTY SPENCER
Miss Cabo Verde, Cristy Spencer Lopes, defeated 11 other delegates to be named Miss CEDEAO / ECOWAS 2013 with a total of 130 points in Abidjan last night. Spencer is a student of Marketing & Advertising, 18 years old and stands 1.78m tall. Spencer's win marks the fourth time Cabo Verde has captured the coveted Miss CEDEAO crown. During this year, she will be the ambassador of the West African beauty at the service of sub-regional integration. The first runner-up was Miss Côte d'Ivoire, Aïssata Dia, with a total of 128 points and the second runner-up was Miss Togo, Épiphanie Gantin, with 117 points.
Competing in this year’s contest, alongside Spencer and her court of honor, were Miss Benin Nadia Dossa, Miss Gambia Anna Manneh, Miss Guinée Koulako Kaba, Miss Burkina Faso Chantal Sanou, Miss Guinea Bissau Tatiana Djau, Miss Mali Tita Fakneye, Miss Niger Nandy Hima, Miss Nigeria Agbonifo Enoma and Miss Sénégal Marie Thérèse Ndiaye. Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia were not represented in the contest for several reasons: while in Sierra Leone and Liberia did not hold a pageant this year, in Ghana the National Committee is facing internal conflicts, as per the director of Miss CEDEAO, Victor Yapobi. [1]
Miss CEDEAO 2013 will receive a cash award from the CEDEAO Commission of 6,000 USD, first runner up 4000 USD and second runner up 3000 USD, plus a lot of sponsor gifts.
Miss CEDEAO 2012 Mariam Diallo of Guinée crowned the new beauty queen at the end of the two-hour finale held at the Convention Center of Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire, Adbijan, Cote d'Ivoire, on December 14, 2013. The 17th Annual Miss CEDEAO Competition was broadcasted live on RTI.
“I have a lot of emotions, I think of my family and friends" These were the first words of Miss Spencer who faced language problems because she speaks only Portuguese. "I think she deserves the crown," said the Ivorian Aïssata Dia somehow disappointed that she did not win the crown of CEDEAO, she recognized that “the newly crowned Miss CEDEAO deserves her place, the judges have made their decision”, during the press conference just after the announcement of results. "Spencer is very beautiful and smart despite her language barrier, she integrated into our group during training days”, she said.
According to sources close to the jury, there were some reports of indiscipline by the Ivorian behind the scenes during the contest. Other sources indicate that a stuttering that occurred during her statement on the theme of "child soldiers", theme for the gala final, has played against her.[2]
HOST: Yves de M’Bella
JUDGES: Mar Mao UNIWAX Human Resources Director (jury Nr 1 & President of the Jury), Patricia N’Dri MTN Sub Director (Jury Nr 2), Michel Yhaye ASKY General Director (Jury Nr 3), Awa Bakayoko JUNIA Procurement Manager (Jury Nr 4), Aziz Samb Producer and TV Presenter (Jury Nr 5) and Lambert Tiacoh (Bailiff).
PERFORMERS: Mike Danon, Nayanka Bell, Hawa Boussim and Le Magnifique.
Sources:[1] All Africa (
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/201312150143.html)
[2] KOACI.COM (
http://www.koaci.com/articles-88294)