A Congolese national has been crowned Miss Africa Ireland for 2011.
Eighteen-year-old Yantha Tambidila, who is a first year student of Tourism and Marketing at the Dublin Institute of Technology, beat seven other strong contenders to emerge the 12th Miss Africa Ireland.
Speaking to Metro Éireann following her crowning, Tambidila thanked the judges of the pageant for “trusting” in her
“I was so happy and grateful to God,” she said. “This was my second time – I participated last year and was one of the top five.”
Asked what she thought were the reasons for the judges’ decision to crown her, Tambidila said it was her composure and always-happy mood that did the magic.
“I kept calm and answered the questions very well, though I might have stumbled, but I continued.
“Naturally I am a happy person and I always smiled. I am also very welcoming of others.”
Tambidila said her plans as Miss Africa Ireland are to continue with the work her predecessor started. These initiatives include an effort to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies.
“The beauty ambassadors each year engage in a series of charity works mainly geared towards interweaving the African and Irish cultures, integration, anti-racism and encouragement and empowerment of the youth,” said Tina Tinuke Akinola-Jinad of Tritees Promotions, organiser of Miss Africa Ireland.
The plight of women in Tambidila’s native DR Congo would also receive attention during her reign.
“I plan to work with Congolese women’s organisations in Ireland and with [African women’s network] AkiDwA to promote equality for them as well as create awareness about gender based violence in DR Congo.”
By October 2012, when her reign ends, Tambidila said she would like people to remember her as a role model and ambassador for all young African women in Ireland.
Runners up in the 2011 Miss Africa Ireland pageant were Congolese woman Vanessa Manungo and Laurinda Celma from Angola. The pageant’s ‘top model’ title went to Kym Rufai from Nigeria.
