BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

“We have an obligation to admire the talents in the youths and to celebrate them so as to give them a sense of belonging in the society”, were the words of the assistant parish priest of the St Denis Catholic Church Akoka, Bariga, Rev. Father Bernard during the 4th edition of the Little Miss St Denis beauty Pageant.

It was fun watching the young ones radiating with smiles and high expectations as they trooped in droves into the St Denis School Hall as early as 11 am penultimate Saturday, venue of the beauty competition. At first, one would mistaken the event for another end of the year party more so, it was organised by a religious organisation but it was the children version of the Miss Nigeria beauty Pageant.

The show kicked off with choreography performed by the selected pretty and organised thirteen contestants, Angela, Precious, Chisom, Chidera, Chidinma, Favour, Ester, Mary Queen, Mary, Chinelo, Precious Eze and Chiamaka.

They gave the audience comprising the spiritual leaders of the church, the Yeye Oge of Lagos, Chief(Mrs) Opral Mason Benson and her entourage; parents/guardians and of course, the children, a real treat of entertainment with stylish dance steps that synchronised with the accompanying Pop gospel music.

The entire hall was thrown into wild shouts and laughter when the contestants cat-walked back into their waiting room after the choreography performance, not knowing that was a piece of the ice berge.

Dance, drama and mimes

In spite of the fact that the occasion was a beauty competition, it was creatively loaded with dances, drama and mimes. Just when people thought the well packaged choreography was the best the youths had to offer, a dance and drama group named C-Fay, stormed the stage with a most interesting Ballet before entertaining the audience with exotic dance steps which they did to the rhythm of another Pop Gospel music.

They also thrilled the audience with several stylish acrobatic displays in addition to a religious dance drama which emphasised on the consequences of dining with the devil via involvement in negative acts and the only way out which is through Christ, thus, sounding a note of warning to the youths to desist from acts capable of jeopardising their future.

Little Blessing Ogbonna left everyone wrapped up in her performance of American music Icon,Whitney Houston’s classical, Greatest Love of All and that, earned her a standing ovation.

The show which brought out talent and creativity in children was not to end without the contestants appearing in their cultural attires. Each of them represented a particular tribe in the country and before leaving the stage, they danced to music that brought back memories of evergreen music of Oriental Brothers and late Oliver De Coque.

Other features at the event were presentation of a drama titled, The Unlucky Girl Friend by the out going Little Miss St Denis Adedola Fakeye who also is the reigning Little face of Lagos. The Unlucky Girl Friend actually won Adedola her title at the Little face of Lagos.

Thereafter, the stage was thrown open to children from the audience for dance competitions while winners who actually surprised guests with jet age dance steps, were rewarded with writing materials and cash.

At the end, Chidinma Ngwu, Chiamaka Egwudo and Mary Ehigiene were announced 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners respectively, while Chidera Iyboyaka emerged as little Angel.

Judges were made up of ex beauty Queens and professional models in the likes of Ogene Kewe, Winifred Arinze, Chioma Ogbonna from Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the rest who gave the excited audience a feel of the real business of beauty competition and fashion show.