The grand finale of Miss Global 2023/4 took place on the 18th of January 2024 and no African Queen qualified for the top five positions. Even the almighty South Africa stopped at the top 12 position.

Still congratulations to all the contestants. They all did very well. They represented their countries well by not being in any scandals. That, people, is one of the greatest achievements of all. Congratulations too to African and Caribbean countries who keep turning up at all the pageants whatever it takes. That is persistence.

So, irregular countries like Sudan and Somalia were teased for the wildcard position. It went to Cambodia after all. The top twenty had South Africa and Nigeria only. There were several Asians – Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. What is it the Africans are missing? We have to go back to the drawing table.

Yes, South Africa has been incredible at all the pageants. They were not placed only at the Miss International Pageant 2023. Otherwise, their queens have done well.

What is it the Africans are not doing right? Thankfully, a Caribbean Queen won the title. That winning country is Puerto Rico. We should all learn from that beautiful Caribbean Island.

Here is a very brief history. Back in the 80s and 90s, there was no beauty pageant that Puerto Rico did not emerge either as winners of the title or the top five contestants. That was when people got used to the name of that country. We all learned to pronounce their name right. “Puerto Rico”.

For sometime, the country dropped in ranking. They were still partaking but were not making the top five contestants any more. Could it be that their organizers identified a snag and worked on it?

So here they are. Back on top. Winning the Miss Global title. Let their sister Africans look at what they are doing right. And borrow a leaf. Crying excuses does not get anyone the title. Our teachers used to say, “be so excellent that if one person has to be chosen, it should be you.”

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