2nd runner up
Grace Ekrakene
Grace Ekrakene is an 18-year-old undergraduate from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), an affiliate of Mosogar College of Education, Delta State, Nigeria. She is the second child in a family of three, from Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State. She had her primary and secondary education at Classical Nursery/Primary School, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Grace Ekrakene – As a little girl growing up, my mother’s friends and neighbors would always call me a beauty queen and encourage me to go for pageant competitions, but I never had the courage to go for any, until I got to senior secondary school. I took part in Miss Classical beauty pageant when I was in SSS1 in my secondary school and emerged the winner at age 13.
I went for more competitions, in which I won some and lose some. then in 2020, I contested for Miss Sapele, and emerge the winner. As a model and a pageant model, I always admire the former Face of Africa, miss Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi, who is now a Nigerian model based in New York City.
During my reign as miss Sapele, I found about FONDCUP and decided to go for the competition. My points in camp were not impressive initially, but I was able to change things and made history. I didn’t know much about my culture and tradition, but I made use of what I knew.
At some point in the competition, I almost gave up halfway, but I encouraged myself and kept pushing, until I was able make the position of the second runner up. My pet project as the second runner up of Face of Niger Delta cultural Pageant centers around publishing the FONDCUP Magazine. We intend to use this medium to promote and showcase the diversity in our rich history, culture, and tradition. Putting our oneness and love in picture and written forms, for the entire world to see and appreciate us for who we are…we are enthusiastic and eager to promote tourism within the Niger Delta region.