By Ogbonna Amadi, Entertainment Editor –

Not much was known about her until that fateful publication that brought out the resemblance between her and super star actress, Genevieve Nnaji hit the internet. The initial reaction of many who saw her photograph was, she is the unknown love child Genevieve had as a student in high school.

As confirmed in our previous stories where we’d unveiled the beauty queen as a 400 level student of linguistics and communications at the University of Port Harcourt, Nengi Warikoko as the lady is known and who is currently Miss Tourism title holder in the Silverbird organsied Most Beautiful Girl (MBGN) opened up first time to Weekend Groove.

And this is how she began her story;

My name is Nengi Warikoko. I’m twenty years and a 400 level student of linguistics and communication studies at the University of Port Harcourt.

Growing Up

I’m the first of the four children that my parents have. I have two brothers and one sister. Growing up was fun because I had a very exciting childhood. I’m the typical Nigerian child who got a lot of attention from my parents because I’m their first child.

I made a lot friends while growing up, and my parents were always on the move because of the nature of my father’s job. And that also explains why I changed school almost every year.

My journey into beauty pageant

I never thought that I’d be a beauty queen because as a little girl, I was very shy. Until my involvement with the MBGN, I never took part in any pageant. My friends were largely responsible for my involvement as they kept the pressure on me to pick up the form. I will remain forever grateful to my friend Omonigho Edeawe who eventually bought me the form.

From the beginning my parents unlike other parents were solidly in support and this gave me the confidence I took to the final screening. It helped too because didn’t let the thought of not getting into the finals bother me.

Winning the Miss Tourism crown

At the beginning, I was more interested in having fun than winning the crown, so I didn’t really care. But at the point when I made it to the final five, I was very nervous. I was also happy because I didn’t really see my self getting that far. Getting to become top five out of thirty pretty girls I figured, was no joke.

Although I didn’t win the top prize at the end of the day, I had a crown and that was important.

Reception

My mum and brother were there to support me at the grand final. At the end of the event I was just too tired to make a call or tell anyone about my success. I just wanted to sleep. But my phone wouldn’t stop ringing, it just went on and on throughout the night.

And when I returned to Pot Harcourt, I got a very warm reception at home and in school. My folks were very proud of me.

Changing lifestyles

Being a queen has made me more confident than I used to be and it’s been a very exciting one. And since becoming a queen, I met a lot of people, made new friends and I reason and see things differently now.

Miss Tourism International

The 2010 edition of the Miss Tourism international was cancelled by the organisers. It was funny when I heard it at first, then it became annoying. I was annoyed because the new date fixed by the organisers means I’d have relinquished my local crown.

Genevieve Nnaji

Let me state here that I’m not Genevieve’s daughter nor am I related to her. I met Genevieve Nnaji the first time at an event we were both invited to in Abuja. Before then she is one of the women I love and respect a lot. In fact I’m one of her biggest fans.

Although I respect and love her, I don’t see myself becoming an actress, but who knows what may happen tomorrow? .

For now, I am content with getting a Master degree in communication arts or get a degree in law.