Beauty Queens in Nigeria are constantly raising the bar in their social impact work, and are stopping at nothing to make a difference in the society.
Queen Edidiong Umoh, the first Miss Next Rated International Model 2020 has set the pace for her successors and other beauty Queens through her debut project: Project Party With A Damsel, aimed at celebrating period realities in Lagos state and Nigeria at large.
The girls from selected schools in Lagos State Education District 1 Agege - Keke Senior High School Ijaiye, Estate Junior Grammar School, and Stadium Junior Grammar School respectively, each received a period kit containing emergency sanitary pad, period pouch, pocket Bibles, a handy period calendar/calculator and a period affirmation booklet. They were accompanied by their teachers - Mrs Idowu O., Mrs. Bajomo A. O., and Mrs. Lawal Azeezat respectively.
“Project Party With A Damsel was targeted at young girls who have just entered puberty and those who are finding it difficult to handle this natural experience”, Says the Lagos-based philanthropist and beauty queen.
“The aim of the project is to help women especially young girls accept and celebrate their period realities”.
She educate the girls about periods, touching important areas, such as: understanding menstruation, observing proper Menstrual hygiene, achieving academic excellence while menstruating, and how to calculate menstrual cycles.
Speaking further, she enlightened them on premenstrual symptoms and how to deal with flow cramps in order to stay in school. Queen Edidiong clearly stated that a healthy Menstrual and personal hygiene can boost a girl’s confidence and self esteem.
The over hundred girls were inspired to dream big and aspire for greatness while embracing their feminine experience. Their teachers also added their voices to strengthen the very informative session, advising the girls to abstain from premarital sex and rather focus on their education. Mrs. Lawal of Stadium Grammar School also emphasized using healthy methods for managing cramps other than pills.
“The challenges faced by menstruating girls are numerous, hence finding ways to deal with them in a dignified way is our most important priority - starting with awareness, access to the right information, quality sanitary supplies and a decent environment is paramount in upholding our period realities”, she said.
The Miss Next Rated International Model 2020, Queen Edidiong, told _the media_ that she is passionate about empowering girls to thrive and would keep on speaking up about girls’ health and education.
The Beauty Queen expressed her gratitude to the District Tutor General (Barr. Mrs. Titilayo Margaret Solarin) and administrative staff for allowing her team impact their schools. She thanked Mr. SIjuade Rotimi for all the support and adding his voice to give his fatherly counsel, and for the love shown by the students and their teachers. She also appreciated the pageant organization, Legacy Models Africa & CDON Global Entertainment for being supportive throughout her journey. Accompanied by her team Udeme Umoh and Okoye Ebuka Peejay, and supported by her partners - Culture&Style, Big Bunny TV, Emmpozi Water, The Lassian Foundation and Miriam Ujunwa Girls Foundation, she acknowledged that they made the work easy and is truly grateful for their collaborative effort in impacting young people.
She invites her fans to follow her on IG -
@thequeen_edidiong
@thelassian_foundation