Photo: Winner of Elite Model Look Nigeria 2011 Chinwe Princess Ejere, pictured centre
Last week I went to Lagos to be one of the judges at Elite Model Look Nigeria 2011, for which ARISE was media partner. Meeting the 14 finalists on the morning of the competition I was impressed by the overall standard of the girls – tall, handsome and lithe, one and all. But it was on the catwalk at the Civic Centre that evening that the real test would unfurl.
Attended by Lagos's fashion, media and entertainment bigwigs, and presented by Studio 53’s Eku Edewor, the models first came out in Melissa Odabash swimwear, then walked in a succession of looks by Nigerian brands Eki Orleans, Republic of Foreigner, Virgos Lounge and Bridget Awosika.
There were also performances by local pop stars Davido and Tiwa Savage and last year’s Elite Model Look Nigeria winner, Chika Emmanuel, took to the catwalk to make a short speech. Meanwhile the judges – Elite booker Seiji Govaers, model Millen Magese, TV producer Bola Balogun, photographer/publisher Kelechi Amadi Obi, Style House Files’ Omoyemi Akerele and myself – went into a huddle outside. It didn’t take long to come to a unanimous decision. Chinwe Princess Ejere was our winner, thanks to her fresh, willowy figure and cute-as-a-button beauty.
Our gracious host, Beth Model Management CEO Elohor Asien, was joined by Magese to present Chinwe with her prizes. The next day the new Elite Model Look Nigeria champion met me for her first editorial modeling assignment – look out for the shoot in the next issue of ARISE.
Chinwe will now join regional winners from all over the globe at the Elite Model Look world final in Shanghai in December. Good luck Chinwe, I’m rooting for you!
Helen Jennings | ARISE Magazine, editor