The Volta Region’s representative in this year’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful pageant, Selorm Magdalene Gafah, has been crowned winner.
Selorm, as she was popularly known during the 13-week reality show, beat competition from Greater Accra Region’s Naa Ayeley to annex the crown in the finals held at the National Theatre on Sunday, October 8.
Bono Region’s Kwartemaa came third while Northern Region’s Nurah and Upper East Region’s Aduanige came fourth and fifth respectively.
It was a breathtaking grand-finale at the National Theatre as all the five finalists brought their A-game to bear in front of a charged audience.
Aduanige opened the show for the contestants after a performance from OliveTheBoy.
She showcased some of the tourism potentials of her region, provoking positive remarks from judge Janet Sunkwa-Mills.
“What a way to open the show, Nige,” Ms Sunkwa-Mills remarked, adding later: “I think you marketed your region very well.”
Veteran judge of the region-based beauty reality show, Linda Ampah, was back in a familiar seat, as she joined the panel of judges at the finals.
Despite congratulating Aduanige, Madam Linda Ampah said the finalist over-emphasised farming in the Upper East Region in her performance, failing to give figures regarding the tourism revenue investors stand to rake back.
Eventual winner Selorm was the third contestant to mount the stage after Nurah.
She showcased some of the rich cultural and traditional heritage of the Volta Region.
She mentioned the great personalities that the Region has blessed this country with, giving a list that included late former President Jerry John Rawlings, late playwright Efo Kodjo Mawugbe and late singer Ephraim Amu.
“We are one Volta, one united people, together we can do great things,” Selorm concluded her presentation as she danced to the popular Agbadza dance.
Judge Dzigbordi Dosoo could not hide her admiration but to remark: “Throughout the competition, you came gracefully, today you came powerfully.”
In the Q&A session, Selorm was asked about her views on the Free SHS Policy implemented by the government.
“The Free SHS Policy, I believe, is a good policy because it has lifted the financial burdens on parents and has also provided free access to education in the second-cycle to every Ghanaian regardless of their status,” she began, citing how a cousin of hers became a beneficiary.
She, however, observed that there are challenges with the Policy, urging more infrastructure and funds to boost the programme.
With the judges having 60 percent and audience and viewers wielding 40 percent of the power to select the winner, Selorm was announced the 2023 GMB queen.
She annexes the crown which was last won by a representative of the Region in 2012. Emefa Adeti won that year.
Selorm will drive away the brand new car and a cash prize of GH¢15,000. She will also win a Camon 20 brand new phone from Tecno and GH¢5,000 worth of products from the company.
She will also be on an all-expense-paid trip to Dubai kind courtesy Global Wings Travel and Tour.
Other performances
Prior to Selorm’s performance, a bicycle-riding Nurah took all by storm with her delivery on the Northern Region.
She pitched some of the great tourist sites the Region is endowed with despite the carving out of the Savannah and North-East regions from it.
She mentioned food, clothing, music, dance, drum, horse-riding, among others, as some of the cultural heritage of her region.
Her accompaniment onstage by a sign language interpreter received glowing remarks from judge Dzgbordi Dosoo, who described it as incredible “inclusivity”.
Greater Accra’s Naa Ayeley, who eventually became the 1st runner-up, brought the stage to light with her Otofo rites.
She also highlighted the warm embrace of the Region, saying it is the reason Accra is the country’s capital town.
Naa Ayeley mentioned adventurous sites like Shai Hills, Dodowa Forest and the Legon Botanical Garden as places one can visit in her region.
“I think you did represent your region well,” judge Linda Ampah said in her remarks.
Perhaps a case of best-reserved-for-last, in the first round, as Bono Region’s Kwartemaa was carried onto the stage in a palanquin.
Her eloquent performance coupled with the magical display of fire, a traditional heritage of the Aduanas, got all marvelled.
No wonder she had thumbs-up from the judges.
The night also saw singers Sefa and Dr Drew also entertaining the audience.