Meet Miss GhanaItaly 2007

When her friends gave her the title "Miss Ghana," at the time she was growing up in her locality in a city north of Italy, little did she know she would one day wear the prestigious crown of the title in that country. But surprisingly, the prophesy of the friends of the 19-year-old Ghanaian Winifred Tawiah, student of Institute of Andrea Mante-gna, became a reality when she was adjudged Miss Ghana-Italy 2007 on October 27. "I felt so excited when I was announced as the winner. I never expected to win," she told the TW in Accra on Wednesday after she paid a courtesy call on the Editor of the Ghanaian Times, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari. She was accompanied by Mrs. Nana Adjoa Awindor, Managing Director of Premier Productions Limited and Jane Awindor, of Irene and Jane fame. Ms.Tawiah said beauty contests have been something she has always wished to participate in since "I want to exhibit my talent," but noted that she never thought of becoming a beauty queen that early. "I know how to pull and entertain crowd. I’m really an amusing person," she said, giving an infectious smile. She recounted how her performance of the popular "hei Alhaji" song at the event excited the audience. Ms Tawiah, who migrated from Ghana to join her mother and siblings in Italy at the tender age of three, is currently in the country for a week-long visit as part of her prize package. The final year biochemistry student told the TW about her intention to settle in Ghana after pursuing a three- year university education in Italy since "I feel relaxed and walk freely here without fear of anything." While in Ghana, she said, she will take the opportunity to explore the traditions and culture of the people of her beautiful home country because "I know nothing much about Ghana." No wonder she said "I am from Kormantse in the Eastern Region" although it is in the Central Region, when speaking about her origins at the Miss Ghana-Italy event. The audience, she said, gave her a loud applause amidst shouts and did not realise she had made a mistake. "It was not until I came home that I realised my mistake because my mother told me I have disgraced her since Kormantse is not in the Eastern Region but rather in the Central Region," she said with a laugh. Like herself, she said that there are a lot more Ghanaian youth in Europe who do not know anything about their own country, a situation she said does not auger well for themselves and the country. For this reason, she told the Times Weekend that, she is devoting her reign as Miss Ghana-Italy 2007 to educate the youth on the need to appreciate their country, its traditions, culture and people, saying "I want those out there to keep their culture." Ms.Tawiah said the first and last time she visited Ghana was 10 years ago, indicating "I prefer living in Ghana because with a good job, one would live better here than in Europe." Touching on beauty pageants, Ms.Tawiah who aspires to be a nurse, indicated that many parents do not want to allow their wards to participate in such pageants because of the perception that participants normally expose vital parts of their body. Wearing a skimpy skirt or beach costumes on platforms of beauty contests or on the streets, she explained, does not make one an immoral person. She noted that beauty contests helps to uncover talents and provides opportunities, hence the need for parents to allow their wards to participate in them. She said that she would prove to people that "beauty is about intelligence and a beautiful girl can do so many things". Ms.Tawiah, who has been modeling in her area in Italy, told TW that she would also go into film acting as a part-time profession because she loves acting. Her hobbies are singing, dancing and acting.