TIPTOPSTARS

For one thing, Lovelyn Afong has a big. She would dare and refuse to chill, even when she is confronted by hazardous challenges. One of the things daring initiatives she has ventured and is confident will succeed is the Miss Cameroon Belgium beauty contest, a project she invested her mind and resources in. Growing up in Ndop in the North West region of Cameroon, the Belgian-based Cameroonian nursed dreams of using what she likes and knows best to improve the living conditions of the needy. Even her beloved ballet dancing could do the trick some day, she conjectured. Hailing from Mbatu, still in the North West region, Afong read Anthropology in the University of Yaounde I, then moved to Europe in 2003 where she also picked up an acting career. TIPTOPSTARS will eventually corner her for more on her acting pursuits but we initially opted to have Afong talk about the Miss Cameroon Begium project. She spoke to our correspondent Titus Banyoh. Excerpts!

Titus Banyoh (TB): What prompted you to embark on the Miss Cameroon Belgium project?

Lovelyn Afong (LA): I’m a lover of ballet which I danced in my secondary school days. I considered it another way of modeling, hence the idea of a beauty contest. Through a beauty contest, we can reach out to the underprivileged as well. These put together inspired me to initiate the Miss Cameroon Belgium.

TB: Any sponsors so far?

LA: Presently we have some, but we are still looking forward to having more sponsors.

TB: What are your goals?

LA: We aim to organize an annual contest of Miss Cameroon in Belgium in order to present our country’s rich cultural diversity of Cameroon. We are out to show the splendor of the Cameroonian woman and also use the occasion to designate the one who will be Cameroon’s ambassador of charm throughout the world and work against poverty.

TB: How do you intend to continue this project in the years to come?

LA: Good question! It’s going to be an annual event and we are putting everything in place to assure its continuity. That said, we have zonal coordinators who assist in organizing the pre-selection in their various zones. These zonal co-ordinations are set up by Miss Cameroon Belgium Organizing Committee which we simply refer to as MOC.

TB: Have you done this before or this is your first time?

LA: Actually this is my very first time and I must confess that I love the challenge.

TB: What is your relationship with the people you work with?

LA: Well, I work with a team of very dynamic people and I believe in what each person is doing. We all know what we are in for and as at now we are very cordial and aiming high.

TB: How far have you gone with the pre-selection exercise and when is the real selection due?

LA: So far we have done about 80% of the pre-selection and the final is slated for Saturday September 22, 2012 at The Hotel Boulevard de Waterloo 38, 1000 Brussels.

TB: What criteria do use in the pre-selection?

LA: Our contestants must be Cameroonians by birth or nationality. They must be bilingual. The age limit is from eighteen to thirty and height at least 1.67 metres, must be resident in Belgium and must comply with all registration requirements.

TB: According to you what should a Miss be capable of doing?

LA: Good to say that, according to me, a Miss should be capable of carrying out the task according to the mission of the organizers.

TB: Do the winners of the pre-selection go home with a package? How much?

LA: There’s actually no prize at this stage of the contest.

TB: What prize has been set aside for the winner of Miss Cameroon Belgium?

Lovelyn: The winner will go home with a packet of Two thousand Euros including a free flight ticket to Cameroon among other gifts.

TB: How about hER runners-up Any? How much?

LA: The first runner-up will go home with a packet of One Thousand Euro among other gifts and The second runner-up will be made 500 Euros richer among other gifts.

TB: Is there anything you would want us to know about you or the project?

LA: I’m appealing to all who have supported me so far to continue their endless support and also to those who are now being informed about our ongoing effort to join this race in promoting our culture.

TB: Thanks so much Lovelyn for talking to TTS.

LA: It is my pleasure and I praise you for your wonderful work.