Model queen to relinquish crown

Model queen to relinquish crown
 By Anna Okon - Sixteen-year-old college student, Emmanuella Chika, who shot to limelight last year after emerging winner of the third edition of Elite model look Nigeria is to hand over to a new model and the winner of the Elite model look 2011 in the international modelling exhibition billed to hold sometime in September this year at the Civic Centre, Lagos. The annual model search organised by Beth modelling agency in Nigeria on behalf of Elite model International aims to scout models of Nigerian origin for Elite’s 37 agencies worldwide.

After emerging winner nationally, a model would go on to compete at the finals in Asia, if she is lucky to become one of the top 15, she automatically gets a modelling contract with Elite model Management. For years, models from all over the world have vied for a chance to work with the agency that discovered and manages super models like Naomi Campbell, Oluchi, Gisele Bundchen, Tyra Banks, Cindy Crawford, Cameron Diaz, Heidi Klum, and Claudia Schiffer among many others but Elohor Aisien, chairman of Beth modelling agency feels black models need a fairer chance in the 28 year-old agency. Only two Nigerians Oluchi (MNET face of Africa) and Tracy Onyekachukwu, the winner of the maiden edition of Elite model look Nigeria have ever scored modelling contracts with the agency. Also Zimbabwe born Nyasha Matonhodze, the only African who was discovered by the agency in 2008 is now the face of LOUIS VUITTON

Sharing her feelings about giving up the crown, Chika says she has been blessed with two crowns, “if I give up Elite I still have another crown from the Arise Africa show.” She tells beauty corner. As the face of Arise, Chika would be representing Nigeria in this year’s New York Fashion Week. Her dad who discovered the audition notice and encouraged his daughter to enter for the competition died in February from a very brief illness and Chika says she is doing all these because he gave her the first push.

Having just written the Joint Matriculation Exams for Universities, Chika’s goal is to study International relations but first she has to plan for the big fashion event coming up in New York. Her challenge? She has observed that white models are very skinny, and the judges prefer those skinny ones. “It is really rare to see a black girl so skinny but I am working on losing all the weight, Mrs. Aisien is also working hard to get me some big agencies in Europe” she tells beauty corner. As soon as she has been able to get a stable modelling engagement abroad, Chika would no longer be represented by Elite Model Look Nigeria.

For this year’s search, Elite Nigeria would be touring major cities and colleges in Nigeria to find girls between the ages of 14 and 23 while Elite representative from Paris would choose 14 finalists from the national finals in Lagos. The finalists would be camped for a week of physical fitness training, makeovers, nutrition lectures, and professional photo sessions.