Women should not be given preferential treatment in workplace —Miss Nigeria, Queen Chioma Obiadi

November 18, 2017

Miss NigeriaTells us about how winning Miss Nigeria has changed your life?

Miss Nigeria was formed in 1957 at a time when Nigeria was trying to gain her independence; so Miss Nigeria is supposed to be an ambassador of peace and unity. This was one of the reasons I decided to come for this pageantry in the first place. I believe the crowned queen is more of an ambassador than she is a beauty queen. I also believe in a platform that empowers women beyond the celebration of beauty. Beauty is good to have, but it doesn’t really take you far. I believe a woman’s beauty goes beyond the outward appearance. So, it has, so far, been amazing. I have learnt a lot. Winning the pageantry has really made me a better person, the standard of education I want now is quite different from what I wanted before, the quality of life I want is now different from what I wanted before. It just made me better generally. 

During the question, did you anticipate the kind of question you were asked?

No. but it was actually the kind of question I have a personal vibe towards. So, I was amazed when it came. 

What was the question?

My question was, “Do you believe woman should be given preferential treatment at the place of work?”

And what was your response?

My response was “No”. Women are as smart and intelligent and brave and emotionally strong. We have what it takes to handle things and we should be given the same opportunity as men. 

During the final announcement of winners, what was running on your mind?

I wasn’t thinking much at that time. The atmosphere was amazing. I have always been a confident person. I had hope it can happen, but you know you are not really sure until you are called upon. So, when I was called I was extremely happy. I was with my family and I was just really excited. The joy was overwhelming.

Having three younger brothers was really tough. My brothers are competitive. It was very difficult to make decisions without them. I always have to intellectually fight for my place as the first child, so I think that really prepared me for who I am today. I am used to having competition and that has toughened me somewhat. 

Would you say that it was easy to handle that question easily because you knew better, having lived with boys?

Maybe, I don’t know. Physically, I am not strong. 

How was living with a lot of ladies during the booth camp period?

It wasn’t that difficult. I think living with my brothers made me stronger than I would if I grew up with just girls. 

How many weeks were you in booth camp?

We were camped for two weeks in Lagos. 

What were the challenges you faced?

From the beginning, my challenges were having to live with so many girls, and being a person who had lived all my life with boys; it took me awhile to adjust. You know, I had to learn how to share my space with people, and because I had wonderful roommates, it was amazing. It made me kind of miss not having a sister. It thought me how to leave with friends, but it was challenging at first –being in a room where everyone had to do their make-up at once and we had to share the same mirror, among other things. It was a lot of experience for me. 

Can you recollect your experience during the Miss Nigeria audition?

Yeah. It was amazing. I auditioned in Enugu State. For a long time, I had looked forward to participating in the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant. Having it come to pass now is a dream come true. I have always told myself ten years back that one day I will be a Miss Nigeria; and here I am. 

How is the burden of being Miss Nigeria?

Well, I wouldn’t really think that it’s a burden at all. It’s really exciting. I have an amazing team who helped me. It was not as challenging as it would have been if I was to be doing it all alone. Most of them have been doing this for a long time, so most times when I have an idea and I put it forward to them they tweak it a little bit. They have been more like my backbone. 

How are you using your crown to affect lives positively?

Well, so far, I have been pursuing my passion, which is the environment. I am a student of Geography and Zoology. The Miss Nigeria had started a project called the Green Girl project, which incidentally rhymes with my field of study. The Green Girl is aimed at promoting sustainability in the environment. You know, there are a lot of environmental issues around us, and the problem is that a lot of Nigerians don’t really understand how these affect them. It is true that we are blessed with almost zero natural disaster, so what I have been doing majorly is to sensitise people on how this could affect them. I have been making progress on my project.

What is your comment on the ethnic tension in Nigeria?

Well, I believe that this is what we should tackle seriously before it goes out of hand. I believe that the reason why Nigeria is the way it is, is because of the unique qualities that every ethnic group brings to the mix. If we split, we would be like any other country; our greatness is in our diversity. You see, when you pick up a broom it’s easy to break, but when it’s together it’s quite difficult to break. Irrespective of our differences, we must all stand together as one because that way we could actually move forward; but if we continue to segregate and discriminate among one another, we wouldn’t get it, and it wouldn’t really work. We should focus more on our success than on who exactly is getting it. It doesn’t really matter which side is better at a thing as long as the glory comes to Nigeria. 

So, as Miss Nigeria, what are you doing for the unity of Nigeria?

I am trying to unite Nigeria through sensitising them through environment. The environment is like fire when it starts it spreads. That’s why when a building is on fire everybody comes to together to quench it. I believe that can be a driving force to push Nigerians together, so we could walk together to better it. 

What will you say about beauty pageants that prioritise beauty than brain?

I was listening to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about The Single Story and I believe for a long time there has been a single story about beauty pageantry and the only thing that is being talked about is our beautiful body and pretty faces, and so once you look at a beauty queen that is the only thing you want to see or look out for. The truth is that story is changing. That is why I decided to associate with Miss Nigeria because we tell the story from a different angle.

I believe what makes you a beauty queen is more of the power of your intellect to be graceful and charming. Indeed everybody is beautiful, but you need to have a lot more to offer. You need to have a lot more substance and that’s why I chose to contest for Miss Nigeria. Miss Nigeria is 20 per cent beauty and 80 per cent intellectual strength, which is fair because if you are going to represent Nigeria, if you are going to represent over 180million people, you should have substance, you should have the intellectual strength to do that. Most pageantry are now restructuring a lot of things because they believe beauty is after all relative. 

In December, a new crown queen will emerge, what do you intend to do with your life after your reign?

School basically. I intend to finish up my studies and start up with my Masters and my Ph.D. 

Do you want to go into the academics?

No. I think I have some business ideas to pursue afterwards. I want to go to a business school to brush up my ideas. I believe I need to educate myself more before going into business. 

What would you say to prospective winner of the 41st edition of Miss Nigeria and other beauty queens?

I would say believe in yourself. Always be you. Do the best that you can. If you dream it, it can actually come to pass.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/women-not-given-preferential-treatment-workplace-miss-nigeria-queen-chioma-obiadi/