I surely need some education and convincing on this issue….According to Ameyaw Debrah who sat as a judge alongside Rodney Quarcoo, Valentina Sweetie Forte, Claudia Kwarteng-Lumor, Dehner Henry and Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Luis Fernando de Andrade Serra, Miss Yayra Nego (pictured above) has been chosen as Miss Universe Ghana.
Yea, you read me right, she is Miss Universe Ghana 2011. Yayra Nego who has a Ghanaian father from the Volta Region and American mother was picked as the winner of Miss Universe Ghana yesterday at the Movenpick Ambssador Hotel, Accra.
What is my problem here? On a prima facie look, the below are my concerns…
By convention and what I know, the winner of Miss Universe Ghana will represent Ghana as a Ghanaian on the Miss Universe World platform to compete with similar winners from various countries. This begs the question, what does this chick know about Ghana and what can she represent in terms of Ghana?
From the video interview below, the chick does not sound Ghanaian. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying you got to have a thick Ghanaian accent to be embraced as a Ghanaian, but on such platform, being in touch with the culture of the country you represent is fundamental. Can she speak any Ghanaian language? Language is a corner stone to culture.
Miss Yayra Nego could not even understand the questions being asked in the video interview below just because I think the interviewer spoke in the ordinary/common Ghanaian accent. It is obvious from the video that, she was struggling to grab whatever she was being asked with the Ghanaian accent on board.
How Ghanaian is this chick to be crowned Miss Universe Ghana? Don’t you think that on such platforms where national representation is needed, the winner must be a Ghanaian not by virtue of possessing a Ghanaian passport but by being in touch with what Ghana is and stands for?
Probably I am just disappointed as to how a non resident who cannot pass for what I consider Ghanaian (she said she is based in US and Ghana, I bet you she is fully based in USA…lol) has been selected to represent Ghana as Miss Universe Ghana on an international platform. On a prima facie look, this chick has no or little Ghanaian left in her…
What do you guyz think?
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiOGoFYYXTo
__________________________________________________________________
Now check the videos below for Yayra E. Nego’s Strong USA Connection and tell us where her loyalty lies…. From the videos below and what I have just read, I think Yayra Nego won Miss Minnesota to enable her go to Miss USA and then proceed to Miss Universe on behalf of USA since the winner of Miss USA is chosen for Miss Universe…
She was not able to win the Miss USA as a Minnesota representative, hence could not make it Miss Universe. Few years down the line, same person finds herself in Ghana to be crowned Miss Universe Ghana.
If the above deduction I am making is right and according to what I have been told as a basic rule of this pageant, once you have contested somewhere, you cannot in anyway contest anywhere. if this is the case, how then did she get through?
This is what Miss Universe Main website says…
ARE THESE COMPETITIONS SEPARATE FROM THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT?
Yes. In 1952, Catalina Swimsuits, formerly a Miss America sponsor, founded Miss Universe and Miss USA in Long Beach, California as product promotion. Although some women compete in both Miss USA and Miss America, the two systems are completely separate. Miss USA goes on to represent her country at the Miss Universe competition.
CAN A DELEGATE COMPETE MORE THAN ONCE?
Contestants may compete more than once in the preliminary (state) competition but may only compete in Miss Universe and Miss USA once. Miss Teen USA may compete in Miss USA but only after her reign has ended and after she has reclaimed her state title.
So how come this girl has been able to compete more than once, she went to Miss USA so from the above, it appears she cannot compete in Miss Universe anywhere in the world then.
http://www.missuniverse.com/info/faq
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcKUdmoxwcI
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNfeiUb8sJ4
Photo Credit: Ameyaw Debrah
Well, did u really have 2 ask? It’s obvious da only reason she won is bc of her light skin n ghanaians fascination with anything not ghanaian
@Dee, I think every nation is fascinated with anything not from their country because it comes across as exotic to them.
@Eno Serwaa,
NO
Sorry but only Africans (which Ghana being no 1) are fascinated with everything NOT African!!!!
As if they are shamed of what and who they are.
@Dee, You got that right, ghana folks will always pick a half, quater one third caste over a full blown ghanaian any day. Is the mother black or white american? Its a damn shame.
WELL I DONT THINK IT MATTERS WHETHER HER ACCENT IS TYPICALLY GHANAIAN OR FOREIGN, OR SHE IS LIGHT SKINNED OR DARK AS LONG AS SHE HAS GHANAIAN BLOOD FLOWING THROUGH HER VEINS AM GOOD.
WE ALL COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES AND THAT DOESNT MAKE US ANY LESS GHANAIAN
I HONESTLY DONT SEE THE PINT OF THIS ARTICLE BUT HEY ITS UR BLOG
@mugye baya, That is not the pinnacle point of this article. I know of a half Jamaican half Ghanaian based abroad that competed for Miss Ghana. It’s not just about blood, the blood simply qualifies you…but winning? Cam ann! Like the dude said, apart from her blood, how else will she represent Ghana? How do you represent a country that you don’t live in? She is just using this as a platform as she is pursuing that career. It’s not about her shade…Look at Menaye Donkor…!!
@BG, who told you she does not live in Ghana? Why do you people make sweeping statements.
Finally someone has unraveled the scam Miss Universe Organizers have me doing for years.They pick people who already have an America Visa,do a small ceremony and get random girls to stand in as contestants and later eventually pick the girl they want.For more than four or five years a lady called Audrey is the head of this,I’ve been to one of their event and when I asked why it was not being organized as a big event,she said usually if they don’t have time to organize a big show they are given permission to just do a small ceremony of about 25 people in the audience.My question is so since then is she saying she doesn’t ever have enough time to organize an event,because she wants a small crowd she can control and manipulate. My cousin participate sometime ago and till date she never got her certificate or even the prize she was promised,and whats worse is the girl who won totally flopped her questions and was dumb as hell,but hey she was a Ghanaian with an American passport.Please Chris get to the bottom of this,its really bad,and whats worse it that every year she gets new judges who don’t even know the truth.As for Ameyaw I’m getting more and more disappointed in him because it seems he’s more about the fame now than being an actually journalist,if he were doing his job well he probably would have known this is a scam. SMH when reporters fight to be in front of the camera and not behind,how can they do their work..Hmmmm every one want to be a star…
@bee, read about closed pageant competition and stop ranting out your ignorance. Ask the previous contestants, how many of them had American Visa? Miss Universe is owned by Donald Trump. The winner gets Visa to participate in the competition wherever it is being held. How many times was it held in the USA for contestants to have American Visa before she is selected?
@bee, This is so true. I’m not from Ghana, but I was doing some research on some of the contestants and I found that blog. Wow
Chris, you have nailed it hot and I can’t wait to see what explanation the scammers behind MISS UNIVERSE GHANA will give for this.
Miss Universe Ghana winner must fully represent Ghana culturally, outlook and every other way Ghanaian. This girl can’t even speak one line of any Ghana language, can’t even eat properly in Ghana food and does not look Ghanaian by colour, shape or anything. TOTAL SCAM!
@Tiffanybabe,
What you are saying is the root of all image problems in the world
so let me ask you what should one look like to be considered Ghanaian
We came in all shapes,sizes and featues
I wont even go into all the other stuff you are sayng about her not being able to eat Ghanaian food, or not knowing anything about Ghana, do you know her personally ei human beings, we are our own downfall
but otherwise i agree with u that Miss Universe Ghana is a big scam, how can a national pagaent be heard privately. hmmm
@Maame Akua, its not a national pageant it is private, and the pageant has no sponsors, the gov’t does not contribute and the oganisers have to pay for everything themselves. Now tell me what you would do if you were in their shoes. They have permission to hold a closed event. once its endorsed by the Miss Universe Organisation, thats all that matters.
@Maame Akua, read about closed pageant competition and stop ranting out your ignorance.
wow she is pretty. maybe ghana will win this time . i hope so. i bet she cant speak any ghanaian language.and she is lying about the fact dats she is based in ghana. why is ghana so obsessed with fair skin colour
@merel, that’s the million dollar question
I don’t see anything wrong with that as long as she has some element of Ghanaian blood in her.If guys like K.P. Boateng wer denied access to the national team,just becos of their lack of knowledge abt stuff in the country or not being in the country long enough, we all know wat we wld have lost.Once she got the crown through genuine means there shouldn’t be problem with dat.We all can’t be from the same background.
@TheChuckylee,
PREACH! my dear,
I dont know wh people consider it a factor, when someone doesnt look like one of them even if they are, look at Obama for instance and all he has had to go thru as far as the birth certificate saga is concerned just cos ppl didnt want to accept he was one of them
it is extremely bush when ppl do that.
Let her be, however the Miss Universe Ghana org has to explain why they have their pagaents in hding whiles their peers like Makaika & Ms Ghana do theirs for the public to see
My issue is not much of citizenship though there can be some concerns there…It is about what the winner (even if a citizen) can represent as a Ghanaian…
A quick research landed me on this…
Also Miss Universe Britain has eligibility requirements like the one below…I am assuming since it is same pageant or so, Ghana will have the same or similar rules…
I will surely find time soon and seek for the Ghana’s version requirements as well as where the winner has been residing for the past 6 months among others!
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, . Its the same as the Great Britain and She has met all eligibility requirements as required by the Miss Universe Organisation.
@Postedcan u give us give us your qualification of being fully Ghanaian. because all i know is that if you are born in a country or being citizen u are qualified to do anything and participate in anything and can win anything By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri,
Chris, did you contact the organizers of this contest and obtain a copy of the criteria for contestants eligibility? Having an idea of what the eligibility requirements are would be helpful in responding to this article. Since Ms. Nego was allowed to enter the contest and even go as far as winning then I believe that she satisfied the criteria for entering and even winning.
Anyway I wish her good luck at the Miss Universe contest.
As for whether or not she understood the interviewer, I would say she did but it was difficult for her to hear the question due to the noise in the backgroud. I couldn’t hear very well either.
For the comments on Ms. Nego’s physical appearance and accent, I am just curious to know what the other contestants look and sound like. Is the winner the only person with this complexion (it appears to be a bone of contention for some readers here)? Is Ms. Nego the only contestant with a “non-heavy” Ghanaian accent? Maybe she just won because she was the best, period.
@Kr, I have not contacted them and will probably do later on since their Communication Director has sent a message to me via Twitter asking for my questions…
I intentionally used the word Prima Facie twice or so to indicate that, the post is based on my FIRST VIEW OF THINGS….
My post was not given answers, I was just asking questions which I think needed answers…Probably question any reasonable person will ask in same circumstance or having read the article and watch the view I did.
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, I didn’t say you gave answers that is why I asked the questions I did. Thank you very much. Prima facie, lol. Come on dude be real. So pretentious. My prima facie of the article and the author is that he need validation. But then that’s just my prima facie.
@Kr, You can hide behind prima facie as much as you want…All it says is that, you are saying things on a first face without any thorough investigation.It is accepted and I think it is the best thing to even do if you are not sure of what you saying or have no concrete evidence to ride on…
Surely you have enough time on your hand, I will respond to folks who have concerns or interesting stuff to bring to the table on this topic rather than those like you asking same questions which I have already asked in the post, meaning I do not know the answers and I need them too. That is why I asked!
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, blah blah blah blah blah, Chris-Vincent the big man on campus is being challenged and he doesn’t like it. My prima facie on all your responses is that no one had called you out on bullshit so I get under your damn skin because I do. That’s my prima facie. You don’t like my prima facie too damn bad.
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, Christ my question is was she born in Ghana? if so then she qualified to be miss Ghana Universe. if color and culture is is your problem then people of color will not hold any position in abroad/White men countries
My issue is not about colour or mere citizenship. I am asking that, don’t we think such things which require national representation need to go movie beyond citizenship and rather be centered on nationality….
Both seem citizenship and nationality mentioned above seem identical but as I have come to learn…citizenship is a legal certification, nationality is all in your head and all you stand for…
My other concern is about her eligibility which centers on the residence requirement and all that…
I think despite the fact that she’s light skin and doesn’t sound ghanaian , she might win or go far .lol
I tried not to but I just could not resist……prima facie look? Are you kidding me? LOL. The most appropriate application for that phrase is in this article. I had the most incredible ridere when my oculars behold the vision of the use of this phrase in this article. My encephalo did a 360 degree turn and then statum. LOL. So prætensus.
Translation for those of us in the real world………For those who may not have known, this is not an assumption that everyone did not know its meaning.
(Prima facie is a latin term meaning at first sight/look/glance. It’s application is legal in its appropriateness).
I had the most incredible laugh with my I saw the use of this phrase (prima facie) in this article. My brain did a 360 degree turn then stood still. LOL. So pretentious. LOL. Gotta laugh sometimes.
@Kr, What you wrote make no sense to me, everybody knows Prima Facie is a latin word preferably a legal jargon which means…”on its face,” or ‘before closer inspection’ or ‘ First face’…
So what are you talking about now? Prima Facie is a an adjective and an adverb and probably more…
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, lol, glad you got the picture.
Chris, so from the Britain requirement , if it is the same for Ghana, it means the girl should have lived in Ghana for 6 months permanently to be qualified right?
In the interview she says she is based in Ghana and USA and models in USA. So if she has been in Ghana for the last 6 months, what has she been doing in Ghana, where is the evidence and who knows her in Ghana or where has she been staying?
Problem don come. In my Nigeria Accent
@Maame, Yes, if it is the same requirement which I will be shocked if it is any different, any contestant should have been a resident for 6 months (Legally, such residence means CONTINUOUS 6 months residence )
Not sure what her residence status is but that is one of the questions I will ask when I finally contact the Communication Director cos he has asked me to send my questions.
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri,
But Chris how do u know she doesnt know anything about Ghanaian culture, from the video she just comes across as a light skinned Gh chick with an accent, which is typical of quite a nos of Gh girls abroad although not everyone. I think ur judgement of her is very unfair, and comes across as if u r stereotyping her. but maybe u know her personally
Hehehehe. Eii Chris, the girl will be crying by now ! On a serious note. I perfectly agrees that, if a person is chosen to represent Ghana then the person should be very abreast with Ghana’s culture or must be thick headed Ghana.
Maybe people who have spent their lives a lot in Ghana, gone to school in Ghana and have done a lot of living in Ghana should be picked. After all, it is a national event.
lets see how this goes. And from the video, how many people were at the event? like my family sunday dinner. Oh Ghana
@akosuaghana, Good point. I think my concern rests on the REPRESENTATION as you also stated.
Citizenship is easy to acquire in today’s world so probably, such representation should look beyond citizenship and should rather rest on nationality…
Both seem identical but as I have come to learn…citizenship is a legal certification, nationality is all in your head and all you stand for.
Chris I called you arrogant in another post and I will add hypocritical to the discription. When your blog is dry and there are not enough comments, you tell me to come and post. Now that I am posting on articles and others are posting you are talking about me having too much time on my hand. You are the most arrogant hypocriical person I have ever met. When I am busy and you ask me to check out things for you, you don’t say oh sorry I know you are busy so I will refrain from asking you to do this or that. Now you want to show out? You really want to show out? REALLY????? You’ve got to be kidding me? I tell it like it is and you know that very well, so don’t go there with me. You know enough about me to not go there. Show off on someone else not me because you know better than that. Unplug here and plug in elsewhere if you have a problem with me. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!
I encourage/ask everybody to visit my blog and add their opinion to discussions. That does not mean I should encourage post hijacking…That is exactly what you doing under this post…
Talking about a total different thing under a post adds nothing to the issue under discussion and I will not encourage that by responding to such comments!
I show courtesy to commentators on here and respond to comments when they require reply and when I am free. That does not mean I should move away from the topics under discussion into a diff whole debate which will add no value to that post
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, posted under Osei and was meant to be here, keep that thought in mind for future reference.
@Kr, is it your first time of hearing the phrase prima facie? Prima facie view, prima facie look, prima facie evidence, prima facie assumption, prima facie analysis and others are correct legal jargons used to indicate among other things that, a case or issue at hand is on a first glance or on the face of things
@Osei Bonsu, It’s not my first time of hearing this term thank you very much Osei. I have taken law classes and my bachelor’s degrees includes a minor in criminal justice, just so you know. As you’ve hopefully read my comment which talked about the application to the article. Tell me do you walk around talking in legal jargons to your friends and acquaintances? Friend’s of mine who are full fledged attorneys don’t do so. There are terminologies that, even though can be used, are when they do not fit the situation, a person of intelligence recognizes that and do not use them. So I am glad that you mentioned the LEGAL jargons, since this article was not one of legal matters. Thank you for finding my posts on the use of prima facie interesting enough to comment on. Please do have a wonderful day.
@Kr, Keep that in mind for future reference.
@Kr, @Osei…. What probably Kr has forgotten is that my blog is opened to both criminal and ciivil suits…Therefore sentences must be covered, if a single legal jargon put before a word can safe me from any lawsuits, then I will be dumb to ignore or eliminate that word…
I am not communicating with my friends, I am communicating with the world, the difference is that my words are opened to lawsuit from over 150 countries and you think I should ignore phrases that can get me off any potential claim of damages?
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, wow, not too busy are we? Enough time on the hands.
Personally I cannot wait to see the official rules for entering the Miss Ghana Universe contest. Not the one that is assumed to be similar to that of the USA or England. The one drafted by the Ghanaian organizers so that once and for all this issue of Ms. Nego can be put to rest one way or another. Chop chop to the person responsible for obtaining this. Rather than commenting on posts that are considered ‘post hijacking’ move on to the ‘real work’ and produce ‘real results’
VOLTA REGION stand up !!!!! Go ahead girl ! Chris I really do not get your point here, I do not see what you are complaining about ???
@T, agree yayra mia wezo
With all due respect and my personal opinion she does not represent the average ghanaian. The world knows the average ghanaian does not look or sound like that. May be that will change soon as we all start to mix up but at the present time we know it aint so. I feel sorry for Ghana. I cry for Ghana. I feel bad for the other competitors. the conventional view in this world is that light is always better. albeit this might be my personal opinion it is a fact shared by many. we are all entitled to our subjective opinions. personally i dont thhink she won on her own merit since we live in a world obsessed with the white mans conventional standards of beauty. i dont buy into that, “point blank” and i,m not here to solicit any arguments. so dont bring it on if your response to me is argumentative and unsubstantiated. it just hurts that some black people universally still buy into the house and field slave mentality. more power to you chris. you have a lot of passion for these issues and i respect that. i seldom come on here and when i do comment, its usually on issues such as these. I refuse to adopt what are conventional standars of beauty or intellect and thats my position!! end of story!. no need to revisit it !
@AA, as much as i agree with u i dont agree on ur average ghanaian statement and that they chose her cos she is lightskinned bcos if i remeber correctly the previous winners were dark so i dont think its the color factor that made her win, and there is no average ghanaian look, i am very light skinned pretty much her colour and that cos my great grand father was white but everything else about me is ghanaian, i was born in ghana -kotobabi to be specific and i lived there till i was 16 and we moved to london, so are u trying to tell me that if iwas in her shoes u will tell me i am not a tyical ghanaian bcos i am light, i find that very offensive.
@Maame Akua, neither am i. just back off with your low sub par intellect. i did not solicit your response.
@Maame Akua, i dont give a dam what color you are or what color your grandparents were. color lines have always been an objective contention of debate. hell, i care if you,re offended. thats for you to deal with. booshit, ” i,m light skinned my ass”. unless you,ve been living in a cave everyone knows thats not an average ghanian look. educate yourself on the world view of color. just grow up and dont get me freakin started.
@AA,
Look I didnt try to start World War 3 so I dont see what all the vulgar lang was for
I do know that there is a steretypical “Gh look” but that doesnt necessarily meam that that is the only way a GHanaian should look
I also know that color is a big issue globally but that doesnt mean that it should
now what you are doing only reinforces the stereotype that color should be an important factor in our daily lives when it shouldnt because it SEEMS the conclusions you have made a largely based on her being light skinned
and u are asking me to grow up when you are attacking me viciously when I just stated my opinion. What happened to intelligent discussions.
@Maame Akua, i am not going to justify your low ass low down dirrty shame comments. get da hell out if u cant take da heat. find somebody to fuck with. cos you definitely dont wana get me started. stop contradicting yourself. fuck i dont care, if you take it as a personal attack. bitch i dont know you. bring it on
@AA,
I find it funny how my comment could get you so riled up you are an interesting character smh
@Maame Akua, stereotypical my ass. grow da fuck up
@Maame Akua, like i said bitch, i am not here to solicit responses. so bring it on if your views are substantianted. you picked on the wrong one, “boo”. dont even go there with me. get a fuckin life
@AA,
Look first u say i should grow up but then who is arguing like a child
and using vulgar lang, i understand that its a blog so u can go all crazy and talk any how but then its also a forum for discussion where ppl voice opinions now i never said i dont agree with some of ur points as from my initial comment u can deduce that i said i agreed with u to some extent
Then u ask me to get a life but, arent we both on the same blog doing the same thing so u indirectly insulting urself
i am just going to leave it her and allow u to continue acting up
@Maame Akua, yah bitch , you,re the one taking it personal by responding to me. you,re the low ass dumb fuck funny ass character. like i said you fuckin dont wana get me started. grow da fuck up or shut da hell up
@Maame Akua, i am not going to justify your comments. thank god you,re leaving. you cant take da heat, can you bitch. fucken heifer , cant even hold down her own. next time you,ll know who to pick a bone with bitch. i,m sure you,ll come back and read ma comments. stupid bitch
@Maame Akua, i dont give a cracks ass if you live in london. i dont live in ghana either. hell i live usa. heck i dont care if you find my comments offensive. if you cant take it on here, get the hell out of this forum. i dont care about your feelings. i,m not debating you. i am stating an objective fact
@Maame Akua, dim witted bitch. obviously not the brightest bulb on the tree
Every year the organisers hand pick a US citizen with “Ghanian parents” or a Girl living in the USA with a Ghanian name, fly her to Ghana and then she Wins MISS UNIVERSE GHANA!!
So no Ghanian living in Ghana is good enough to win
skip to 0.53 on the video she is asked “Are you based here or in America?” she says “I live here and in America” BS she lives in America ask her what address in Ghana and the way to her village
she is not eligible to represent Ghana she tried @ Miss USA and did not qualify to be MISS USA!
THIS IS SCAM! SCAM! SCAM !
SHAME! SHAME!! SHAME!!
Ghana has be robbed again by this organiser.
@nora, Did she contest for Miss Universe USA and did not make it you say? Or you talking about something else?
I asked becos, from what I have read from Miss Universe Guidelines, you cannot contest else where if you have before at any other place…Unless I did not get it right!
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri,
Sorry she took part in MISS USA As Miss MINNESOTA USA 2009, so how does she go from Miss Minnesota USA 2009 trying to be Miss USA 2009, to Miss Universe Ghana 2011?
@kr but what chris is saying is true. stickto the topic! this is a problem on this website and it is time chris and co make sure that it stops. even when an article is about nadia, you will see comments about jackie which are not related. if he says stick to topic unless you have a lot of time on your hand for unrelated debates, is it bad?
Now my 2cent on the issue, this miss universe has alwaya been shady. the selection and everything is so dodgy .can we have some transparancy this time?
@Joyce, If it is true for you sweetheart why do you want to prolong the ‘off the topic’ conversation with me? Anyway, thanks for commenting to me personally not that it adds or subtract from me in anyway.
@Joyce, it just goes to show that the Organisers are scam artists if they do this every time and get away with it,
Miss Universe Represents Ghana, IN Ghana for the year of her reign ho can she do that from Minnesota?
Obviously the Organisers who them selves are US based stand to make a tidy sum in appearance and modelling fess form her working in the US plus no Visa or work permit required for her, the website http://www.Missuniverseghana.com does not work so how did this girl from USA fins out all the information ?
@nora, it is because people like u are not serious about ur life. If you are interested in something you find it. She comes to Ghana and has relatives in Ghana. It was advertised in Mirror. Please lets be serious.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7au3NWizn64
@Kr, Oh gosh, so a resident out there or what? Just can’t even believe this…Is this even allowed?
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, resident of Mn. Will let you know the rules once I find it
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcKUdmoxwcI&NR=1
check out these links for Ms. Nego with her connection to Miss Minnesota USA and Miss USA
@Kr,Did she say she want to be a leader in her community? So where is her community? Minnesota or Accra/Ghana?
Is that how quick she swaps her community loyalty? This is sad! Thanks for the video post!
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, well, she may just be talking abt the community that she lived in when she participated in that pageant.
Minnesota pageant rules simple say contestants must be a US citizen, must be within the required age range and must live in the state that they want to represent. The interest question would be, if Ms Nego had won the Miss Ghana Universe title (like she has now) would she be able to participate in the Miss Minnesota pageant and go on to represent her state in the Miss USA and ultimately the Miss Universe pageant for America? Please get the rules and eligibility for the Miss Ghana Universe contest before any ‘corrections’ can be made.
This is what Miss Universe Main website says…
ARE THESE COMPETITIONS SEPARATE FROM THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT?
Yes. In 1952, Catalina Swimsuits, formerly a Miss America sponsor, founded Miss Universe and Miss USA in Long Beach, California as product promotion. Although some women compete in both Miss USA and Miss America, the two systems are completely separate. Miss USA goes on to represent her country at the Miss Universe competition.
CAN A DELEGATE COMPETE MORE THAN ONCE?
Contestants may compete more than once in the preliminary (state) competition but may only compete in Miss Universe and Miss USA once. Miss Teen USA may compete in Miss USA but only after her reign has ended and after she has reclaimed her state title.
So how come this girl has been able to compete more than once, she went to Miss USA so from the above, it appears she cannot compete in Miss Universe anywhere in the world then.
http://www.missuniverse.com/info/faq
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, it will be interesting to see how the Miss Universe officials handle this situation. Maybe she’ll try to bypass this by using the fact that she competed in the Miss USA but not the Miss Universe and she is now competing as Miss Ghana not Miss USA. Interesting indeed, now I can understand why the US isn’t warm to the idea of dual citizenship because of questions of loyalty. I will contact the Miss USA and Miss Universe ppl on Tuesday to get some answers on this. Will let you know.
@Kr, But from what I read, I think immediately you compete in Miss USA, then you are in a way competing Miss Universe USA. Because the winner of Miss USA becomes the US rep to Miss Universe(world).
So if she contested in Miss USA (Miss Universe USA) and did not win, how has she been able to go to a diff country-Ghana and compete for Miss Universe Ghana when the rule is that, you can only compete in Miss Universe whatever country once and can’t go to any other country to compete after?
This is sick and Embarrassing you know!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Who-The-Heck-Is-In-Charge-Of-Miss-Universe-Ghana/143490575725890?ref=ts&sk=wall
she can run for GH because the clause says “may only compete in Miss Universe AND Miss USA once…” and not “or”
still think it was a big fail to elect her miss gh though
Can only be sure after communication with the organizers. They’ll be able to clarify the eligibility rules where uncertianty exists.
Fact finder update The Miss USA and Miss America contests are two seperate systems. Contestants can participate in both. However, the Miss USA pageant winner goes on to represent her country in the Miss Universe pageant. Ms. Nego participated in the Miss USA pageant but did not win so she did not participate in the Miss Universe pageant as the representative for the USA. This would be her first time representing any country in the Miss Universe pageant. Information can be obtained from the Miss Universe website under the (FAQ) frequently asked questions section.
@Kr, Yes, but if I read this right, there is no Miss Universe contest in USA to select an over all preventative as USA Miss Universe to go to the World comp. The over all winner of Miss USA becomes the automatic US rep to Miss Universe World.
Does that not mean that, contesting in Miss USA which the winner automatically becomes Miss Universe rep for USA is contesting in Miss Universe USA?. I do’nt know if spot what I am saying…
In Ghana, Miss Ghana and Miss Universe are diff, but in USA it seems to one since the contestant who wins the latter will go to represent USA at Miss Universe world platform….There is no contest held in USA called Miss Universe USA to choose a USA rep for Miss Universe world… Below is what the site says…
ARE THESE COMPETITIONS SEPARATE FROM THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT?
Yes. In 1952, Catalina Swimsuits, formerly a Miss America sponsor, founded Miss Universe and Miss USA in Long Beach, California as product promotion. Although some women compete in both Miss USA and Miss America, the two systems are completely separate. Miss USA goes on to represent her country at the Miss Universe competition.
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, Remember there is no Miss Universe Pageant in USA. There is Miss USA pageant which if you win, you are automatically USA rep to Miss Universe…
From what I know, Miss America will take you to Miss World and it has nothing to do with what we are discussion…
Let’s equivalence it…
Miss Ghana pageant will take you to miss world so it’s equivalence in United States is Miss America.
Miss Universe pageant in Ghana will take you to Miss Universe (international version) so in United States, it’s equivalent is Miss USA.
So , if Madam A is in the United States, she will contest for Miss USA and if Madam A is in Ghana, she will contest for Miss Universe Pageant Ghana to be selected for the Miss Universe International plaform comp.
Nego was in USA so she already did what she came to do in Ghana, the difference is that, she did not win in USA but won in Ghana.
So it is same as having run for a pageant in Ghana which would have taken you to Miss Universe (international) and you losing and then go to Nigeria to run another pageant with diff name but the ultimate is to take you to Miss Universe(international)…
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, yep that’s correct. Ms. Nego was merely a representative for her state, Minnesota, competing in the Miss Universe USA with the other states representatives for the ultimate title (Miss Universe USA). Her only participation then is in the Miss USA pageant. Her dreams of becoming Miss Universe USA to represent America in the Miss Universe pageant were not realized because she did not win. Your observation on the structure of the Miss USA pageant is correct. There is no open call competion for entry to the Miss USA pageant, hopefulls go from local (like counties) to state to national, then from national to international. A waste of money in my opinion.
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, that’s a stupid argument. She never changed her name. How can a non-Nigerian go to contest in Nigeria after losing in Ghana? Has dual citizenship. Read about Miss Bahamas on this link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastagia_Pierre.
Stop making stupid arguments.
Now I get it. This is a complete scam and all the pagaents are scams anyway. They used that to exploit desperate girls like this one.
There are so many of them out there; Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss Earth, Miss Planet Earth, Miss Global Queen, Miss International and a dozen of them.
So in america the girl is not good enough but in Ghana she is a winner? What kind of nonsense be this? Africa will always be Africa because of chaff like this going on.
If the girl is true to herself, she would not have even thought about entering the Ghanaian competition at all after her failed attempt in America.
@akosuaghana, LOL she knew GH will be the easiest way out. she knew she will have it her way in GH especially with some few dollars down.
Too bad.
Hell no, this can’t be true, who is this? i think by now her parents should be ashamed of themselves. A ghanaian, and does not even speak any of our language that is a BIG SHAME.
@Serwaah, What is shameful about not being able to speak a Ghanaian language?
This is nothing new, the organizers have been doing this for years CHECK OUT 2010 -2008 they pulled the same stunt, brought US based girls to Ghana and they “WON”:
CHANGE THE NAME TO
MISS
UNIVERSE
GHANA
USA :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nKnXzTtfG8&feature=player_embedded
New Yorker Wins Miss Universe Ghana 2008 in Accra
http://www.modernghana.com/music/12647/3/miss-universe-ghana-2010-miss-krystle-awura-ama-si.html
Miss Universe Ghana 2010 – Miss. Krystle Awura Ama Simpson came from the US as well
@ Maxi, hahaha are u a ghanaian? please it is MISS UNIVERSE (GHANA) and NOT MISS UNIVERSE (GHANA-USA) B.Y.E
@Serwaah, yeah I am. Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastagia_Pierre. It is about Miss Bahamas, Anastagia_Pierre. “Pierre has previously competed at Miss Teen USA 2004 as Miss Florida Teen USA. She also won Miss Florida USA 2009 and competed at Miss USA that year. In addition to that, she was 2nd runner-up at Miss Intercontinental 2010, representing The Bahamas.” Stop following the immature and irresponsible comments by Chris. He does not know what goes into Pageant Competitions.
@Maximus,Can you tell us where in Ghana did this girl stay for the last 6months, what did she do in Ghana during this 6 months or where did she work? We all know you are part of the organizers and it is a scam.
I will personally send this link and others to the Miss Universe World (Trump’s people). You people are scammers and fraudsters
@akosuaghana, who says they do not know about her already? You have not read the requirements to contest in Ghana. Stop saying things that you do not know. I am part of the organizers.
@Maximus,—————– So if your next door neighbour decides to rape a child in his care, you will do the same is what you are saying?
Who gives a Rats Ass about Miss Bahamas? that is equally wrong and they should both be qualifiedly, but you are part of the organisation send here to defend the SCAM!!!!
Chris, I suggest you do your homework before your write a story on things you do not have the full details about. Why should you even use our photographs and copyright with your website. Do you know its a breach of copyright? Your insulting headline will not help you. Learn from Ameyaw Debrah.
can u give us give us your qualification of being fully Ghanaian. because all i know is that if you are born in a country or being citizen u are qualified to do anything and participate in anything and can win anything
This is definitely a scam! She should have been disqualified from the beginning cuz she has already represented another country in a beauty contest!! How can u go from being miss Minnesota U.S.A to become miss universe Ghana, Isn’t that suppose to be illegal??!
@rocco, no. It is not illegal. Read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastagia_Pierre. It is about Miss Bahamas, Anastagia_Pierre. “Pierre has previously competed at Miss Teen USA 2004 as Miss Florida Teen USA. She also won Miss Florida USA 2009 and competed at Miss USA that year. In addition to that, she was 2nd runner-up at Miss Intercontinental 2010, representing The Bahamas.” Stop following the immature and irresponsible comments by Chris. He does not know what goes into Pageant Competitions.
@Maximus,———- So if your next door neighbour decides to rape a child in his care, you will do the same is what you are saying?
Who gives a Rats Ass about Miss Bahamas? that is equally wrong and they should both be qualifiedly, but you are part of the organisation send here to defend the SCAM!!!!
@Miss Ghana Mars 2011, have u read the requirements very well? Who says you cannot contest the competition even if you won other contests?
@Maximus,—– But all Miss Universe contestants MUST have resided in the country the represent for the preceding 6 months, this girls did not, and does not live in Ghana, just like the previous 2 Miss Universe Ghanas: 2008 and 2010
she and they event had to get a visa to enter Ghana.
SHE MUST MEET THE RULES!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Who-The-Heck-Is-In-Charge-Of-Miss-Universe-Ghana/143490575725890?ref=ts&sk=wall
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Who-The-Heck-Is-In-Charge-Of-Miss-Universe-Ghana/143490575725890?ref=ts&sk=wall .
i would have thought that all those making these negative comments would have been proud to see a well spoken, pretty and someone with finess win this competition to represent us at the miss universe, but obviously we are doing what we as ghanians do best, critisize! what disturbs us the most that she is light skinned or that she does not talk like a ghnanian. will it have made us feel better if she is a lady with dark skin and had a different accent? or if she had yayra’s light skin with a ghanian accent? or more if she had a light skin ghanian accent and no america visa? what has food got to do with anything i know my fellow ga people who can not eat kenkey or pepper and my fellow ashantis who do not eat fufu or ewes who do not eat banku does that mean they are not originally frm their individual regions. we go round trying to claim other light skinned or dark skinned people with ghanian sir names frm other countries that have done well for themselves like boris kodjoe on todays ghana celedrities titiled (ghana’ boris kodjoe) miss universe has been around in ghana for the past 15 years and so far i see 3 people mentioned as frm the U S A to compete if true i wonder where it says because you schooled or worked abroad does not qualify you as a ghanaian. we might have a chance of winning or getting close to winning than ever before in this miss universe contest than ever before because if we could in the past we would have but this time we have something different be her light, dark, accent, no accent, ghanaian enough or not, but still a ghanaian whether we want it or not, lets all support her to help make our country proud.
@awurakua, sorry but you missed the boat, bus, donkey and what ever method of transport you take
THIS IS WHAT THE ORGANISERS HAVE SAID—————-
“The national preliminary – just like the international final – is judged by a panel of independent judges from all walks of life, briefed to select the one woman who uniquely exemplifies contemporary Ghanaian womanhood: in short ‘Beautifully Ghanaian’. Unfortunately, contestants who have lived abroad, tend to have a lot more exposure and sometimes have an edge over those who have had not had as much exposure, and our 6-week pre-selection crash courses in the past helped in reducing this variance.
The public saw the delegates only after they had gone through the program, which made our delegates appear polished. We might consider reinstating that program at some point in the future. Ms. Nego holds dual Ghanaian-American nationality – her father is Ghanaian from the Volta Region and her mother is of Persian and German ancestry and is proud of her mixed heritage.” FROM THE MISS UNIVERSE FACEBOOK PAGE http://www.facebook.com/pages/Who-The-Heck-Is-In-Charge-Of-Miss-Universe-Ghana/143490575725890
“contestants who have lived abroad, tend to have a lot more exposure and sometimes have an edge over those who have had not had as much exposure,” SO IN SHORT MUG ORGANISERS THINK GIRLS BACK HOME ARE BACKWARD SO THEY HAVE TO BRING IN GIRLS FROM USA .
@Miss Ghana Mars 2011,
did you hear self, then have it reinstated and have girls polished to start entering pageants. am trying to understand your point but it doesn’t make sense what do you call a beautiful ghanaian, 6weeks crush course and did that win us anything in the past.
so what if the ones coming frm abroad have a headstart where is that wrong. since all this start all i have read is she is too light she does not look like a ghanian. what if she has a persian german mother, isn’t her father ghanian.
THIS IS WHAT THE ORGANISERS HAVE SAID—————-“The national preliminary – just like the international final – is judged by a panel of independent judges from all walks of life, briefed to select the one woman who uniquely exemplifies contemporary Ghanaian womanhood: in short ‘Beautifully Ghanaian’. Unfortunately, contestants who have lived abroad, tend to have a lot more exposure and sometimes have an edge over those who have had not had as much exposure, and our 6-week pre-selection crash courses in the past helped in reducing this variance.The public saw the delegates only after they had gone through the program, which made our delegates appear polished. We might consider reinstating that program at some point in the future. Ms. Nego holds dual Ghanaian-American nationality – her father is Ghanaian from the Volta Region and her mother is of Persian and German ancestry and is proud of her mixed heritage.” FROM THE MISS UNIVERSE FACEBOOK PAGE http://www.facebook.com/pages/Who-The-Heck-Is-In-Charge-Of-Miss-Universe-Ghana/143490575725890 ”contestants who have lived abroad, tend to have a lot more exposure and sometimes have an edge over those who have had not had as much exposure,” SO IN SHORT MUG ORGANISERS THINK GIRLS BACK HOME ARE BACKWARD SO THEY HAVE TO BRING IN GIRLS FROM USA .
Hey hey hey, you should be appreciative, tho it’s somehow a conflict of interest in any way.. but she can still rep GH. Don’t you guys forget that the sperm that created her.. is a Ghanaian sperm from VR. So just pray she wins. She looks like she has the potential than your avarage GH chic. Just support her people and stop the negativity. I worked for trump for 3 years as one of his assistants and trust me, this girl can win for Ghana. She just needs to project that she knows the region she reping and all will be well. She got the brains.
This is a Kangaroo pageant. You CANNOT choose a delegate to represent an entire nation (Ghana)by organizing a small party with your friends in a tiny hallway, and called it Miss Universe Ghana pageant!. besides, the chick lives in USA and has no knowledge whatsoever about Ghana. Can this chick even sing the Ghanaian National Anthem? Does she even think we have a national anthem? What platform is she running on,education? has she any knowledge about Ghanaian education system? Ask this chick her knowledge about Ghana,and this argument would end! scammers!
Because she is light-skin?
Fool! This is NOT about light skin or dark skin! There are lots of Ghanaian light-skins! my sisters are light-skins as well. The point is THIS CHICK shouldn’t be anywhere near this competition, due to the fact that she cannot represent the Republic of Ghana in any pageant. She has no knowledge of the culture, food,language and etc.Is she a Ghanaian citizen? I can bet my last penny on her not even HOLDING a Ghanaian CITIZENSHIP as well. Representing a country is not a small feat that should be left to outsiders!
Ha! so i wasnt the only one pissed about this scam of a beauty pageant. i think the ministry of tourism should be concerned when a bunch of opportunists try to perpetuate their doabolic plans n use Ghana as cover-up. this is shameful. A miss Ghana who cannot speak even one ghanaian local language. gosh.
Ghanaians need to grow up, this light skin stupid mentality drives me crazy although myself I’m not a dark person SMH!!
Hmm, I wonder what shes going to do for the cultural representation part…of there is such a part. I just hope she doesn’t botch it
chris, i got to be honest about this, u are not been fair to this girl. let her be and let us see if she is going to make Ghana proud
not every one who comes on here is ghanaian. so stop generalizing and stop the ignorant assumptions. fact check: color has been known to play a role in every society, black or white. wake up and smell the coffee. quit being ignorant about race and move on
“Now check the videos below for Yayra E. Nego’s Strong USA Connection and tell us where her loyalty lies”…….A video of her in the gym preparing for the pageant and another video of her representating her state in an event is enough to show where her loyalties lie??…..Dude,i guess all those living outside Ghana should give up their bank accounts and credit cards,i represented my school in an event,i guess i’m not loyal to Ghana anymore?…Inspire us and cut all your ties with london.I bet you will be trunpeting that your degree is from london when you are done,are you being loyal to Ghana.Are you not Ghanaian if you represent another country you are connected to in any way??…..Hope you see how petty that kind of thinking is when applied to other scenarios…FLAWED LOGIC.Your readers are not as “simple” as you think.If you are being called out,its not based on your opinion of misrepresenting facts.Your 1+1 just don’t add up to 2.
SHE DOES NOT LIVE IN GHANA AND THE RULES STATE THAT SHE MUST LIVE OR HAVE LIVED IN GHANA FOR THE PRECEEDING 6 MONTHS, END OF STORY stop miXing KENKE and FUFU.
Nobody says she is not Ghanian by virtue of her dad, but she does not meet the residency requirements to Represent Ghana @ Miss Universe 2011. THIS IS WHAT IS GETTING US UPSET, she flew in “won” and has flown back to the USA!
It is such a fake pageant, they picked the last 3 winners in advance in 2008-2010-2011 from USA, flew them to Ghana and they won, can you tell me that Yayra Nego spent US$4000+ flying to form Minnesota to Ghana and preparing her self for the “CON- Test” Wins it and comes out and say wining it was “totally unexpected” BTW we did not see event one family member there, so where are they also in USA or Persia???????
They should not even bother coming to Ghana to hold a fake “close door” contest just hold in it USA every year and be done with it. if Ghanian girls at home are not Polished enough to represent Ghana.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Who-The-Heck-Is-In-Charge-Of-Miss-Universe-Ghana/143490575725890?ref=ts&sk=wall
Chris thank you for following the number 1 rule in journalism; to seek the truth and report it. Many people don’t know the politics behind pageants and end up wasting time, effort, and money competing in them. Trust me, I am one who competed in a pageant and didn’t find out the truth about the organization until the day of the final competition. I love pageants, they are fun…..but greedy organizations take the fun out of them.
Am I done competing in pageants? After reading this article and watching the clips, YES!
Erica is a gorgeous woman, but clearly she broke pageant rules and hopefully something can be done.
When will people start being HONESTY and live with INTEGRITY?!
The Ministry Of Chieftaincy & Culture in Ghana has stepped-up and is apparently going to block this and any “foreigners” girl from representing Ghana at Miss Universe, until organisier provides documents that show how this girl was selected. After 6 months of selection the organizers expect everyone to believe they could only come up with 4 Girls in the whole of Ghana plus one girl specially flown in to Win.
I am in a dilema with this topic because I do agree that the person representing the country has to have some knowledge or at least feel proud of representing the country instead of only using this as a platform for international exposure. However, what if somebody who has no Ghanian blood in her veins but was born and raised in Ghana would like to represent the country(say a white girl). Would she be accepted or not? Would she have to go to the country of their parents to be able to represent knowing nothing about the culture of that country. I know it is probably a different situation but my point is that people tend to just discriminate without taking in consideration all possible aspects of a case.
In my opinion both have the right to represent as long as they feel proud of what they represent which is in most of the cases not only the color of the skin or if you live here or not.
It’s a complicated topic but it’s good to debate to find an understanding.
The girl in question has competed in Miss USA as a rep from Minnesota, but not in Miss Universe as a rep from the United States of America. It is clear that this girls only goal and passion is to compete in a big scale pageant and win at any cost, now she is claiming some sort of affiliation to Ghana to compete as a Ghanaian as she is not eligible to contest as an American as she didnt win Miss USA.
When she was competing in Miss USA why didnt she use the name Yayra, but chose Erica,
Shes a phony, and shouldnt be able to represent
I too am horrified by this selection on so many levels. There is first the obvious issue as to whether she will be able to represent Ghanaian issues properly. She was raised in Minnesota and I am concerned that she will not be able to speak to issues that are of concern to ordinary Ghanaians. I have two Ghanaian parents and I was raised in NYC. I would not be able to speak to the issues representing ordinary Ghanaians. Second, I am intensely disappointed that Ghana has completely failed its duty to use the Miss Universe pageant as a platform to promote dark beauty. Over 90% of Ghanaians have dark skin and kinky hair. Traditionally in western culture lighter skin and straighter hair textures have been idolized. In Ghana, we recognize that women with dark skin, kinky hair, big eyes, and full lips and hips are gorgeous. The Miss Universe pageant is our opportunity to demonstrate that. Ms. Erica Nego does not represent that. Lastly, I’m afraid of what this decision says to Ghanaian girls. If you have no hope as a dark skin indigenous Ghanaian girl of being selected to represent your own country of Ghana on the word stage, then what hope is there that your beauty and culture will be celebrated globally. This is incredibly sad. Again, the judges should be ashamed of themselves.
@Asantewaa, I totally agree about what message it sends to Ghanaian girls. This is crazy. We embrace out smooth dark skin and thick hair texture. Man this is honestly not a good look for Ghana. Those judges need to get it together or be replaced honestly.
CHALE!!!!! What is this? This girl does not Know anything about Ghana. I would have been a better contestant. I was born in Accra and moved to Philadelphia when I was 2, but at least I am very tied and connected to Ghanaian culture. still speak Ga fluently understand most of Twi and have been to Ghana a few times at least. Dis girl knows nothing KRAAAAA!!! Honestly I am very disappointed in the selection of Miss Ghana. she is a beautiful Woman but not a beauty to represent Ghana. Please whoever is in charge should not let this happen again!!!!
There is a name for people like Erica Nego, they are called “pageant hoppers” when i saw her pics @ brazil, i knew she would not make top 15 she looked old, and tired and did not even stand out among allt he other contests . seems like ghananians are kind of obsessed with light skin!!! lol