Introducing Queen Obulata Annderah as our Model of the Month for July 2024 and the cover girl for this month Model’s Issue. Obutala Annderah Chiderah is a professional model and beauty queen who hails from Etche LGA in Rivers state and also a law student of the Rivers state University. She is currently The National Queen Nigeria Ambassador 2024 and the Face of National Queen Nigeria 2023. Started her pageant journey in 2023 and so far, she has achieved a lot as well as well as carry out projects to promote and spread the message of equality and inclusivity.
I owns a foundation called We All Matter Foundation (WeMa) with which i use as a platform to serve. With my MENSTRUAL EQUITY project targeted towards the girl child, I was able to inspire and enlighten the girl child on the need for a proper menstrual hygiene and to not feel stigmatized. It also served as a means to draw the issue of menstrual equity to the public eye. I have also carried out an outreach to the Orphanage home and widows home with the theme “TO LOVE AND BE LOVED, letting them know that they are loved and in turn they should give love to others. My Father’s Day giveaway celebrated Fatherhood and gave the lucky winner a chance to suprise her father. I have an annual online essay competition to celebrate international literacy day where three persons with the best essays are awarded with a cash prize. I believe that everyone including the disabled should be represented, accepted and included.
In this interview with her, she shared about her journey as a beauty queen, challenges, projects and many more…
How did your journey in the modeling begin?
My journey began last year when I was crowned as the Face of National Queen Nigeria.
What motivated you to pursue a career in modeling?
I always knew I wanted to have a career in modelling. Growing up as a child and watching MBGN on silverbird tv with my family wishing to be one of the girls on the screen. This is what motivated me.
Tell us about your reign as Face of National Queen Nigeria?
My reign is one of the favorite chapter of my life. A remarkable experience I would never want to forget. It was my first step into the pageant industry and I was welcomed with love and support. It taught me a lot of lessons and gave me a chance to meet amazing persons who would be a part of my life forever. It gave me a purpose and a vision which I am going to run with for the rest of my life.
What would you say stood you out from other contestants?
Every contestant had a beautiful personality and we all had something to learn from and teach to each other. But a quote I love says we are all different and this difference makes us unique. So I would love to say my unique difference stood me out.
What are the challenges you faced and how did you overcame them?
Being the face of the National Queen Nigeria comes with a lot of responsibility. Of course I faced challenges and they weighed on me. The challenge I struggled with the most was being positive and staying true to myself. You know everyday we meet different persons and we tend to unknowingly compare and criticize ourselves. It was a struggle for me to remain positive and stay true to myself trusting myself and believing in my capabilities. I overcame this challenge by trusting in God and shutting out the comparisons.
How has winning this crown changed your life?
The crown helped me find my purpose and vision. Before the crown I didn’t have a vision of what path I wanted to walk on and the goals I wanted to achieve. The crown gave me a direction. I had a voice but the crown amplified that voice and gave me a confidence boost.
What’s your dream modeling job?
I would love to be a fashion model and walk the ramp for designers. This is my dream job because being a petite model we have lesser opportunities of walking the ramps due to the height requirement. As an equality and inclusivity advocate, walking the ramp irrespective of my height would be a huge milestone for me.
Have you done any pet project, if yes, tell us about it
I have carried out a Menstrual Equity project where I distributed menstrual hygiene products to the girl child and enlightened them on the need for a proper menstrual hygiene. I have also carried out an outreach to the Orphange home and the widows home. I have carried out a Father’s Day giveaway and I have an annual online essay competition which runs from July to August each year. The online essay competition awards three persons with the best essays with a cash prize.
You were recently crowned The National Queen Nigeria Ambassador, how does it make you feel?
I feel very appreciated and honored because it means that nothing goes unnoticed. I’m grateful for the recognition and it has motivated me more to keep serving and being impactful in the society.
How do you intend to use this your new office to make impact in the society?
I have a lot planned already and by Gods grace everything will be perfected in due time. I will consistently keep spreading the message of Equality and inclusivity which I advocate for. I have projects lined up and I believe they will be impactful in the society.
Which brand are you interested to work with?
I have a lot of brands in mind and I’ve being privileged to work with a few brands like Molped, Hello pristine, etc. I don’t mind working with any brand that reaches out. I am ready and available to work.
Your favourite photographer and why?
My favorite photographer has to be Wavy Maraji. He’s just the best in the game. Every model needs a photographer to perfect the end product and Wavy creates magic each time we work together.
Do you have any mentor in pageantry, who and why?
I have a lot of pageant icons I look up to. I love Miss Universe 2021, Harnaaz Sandhu, Michelle Dee and Maristella Okpala.
If you are giving the chance to change one thing in pageantry, what would that be?
Definitely the height and body requirement. There are a lot of girls who are petite like me and are plus sized but dream of being a pageant queen. Their dreams are not actualized because of the requirements of many pageant organizations.
Tell us 3 things people don’t know about you?
For one thing I love to eat. This is crazy but I could just stay indoors the whole day ordering takeouts and watching movies. I am an introvert and I aspire to be an actress.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
In five years I’ll be 25. Hopefully I should have represented Nigeria on an international stage. This is one thing I really want to achieve.
Any message to the aspiring models that want to follow your footsteps?
Always be the best version of yourself and shut comparisons. Listen to the criticisms cause most of the times they caution us but don’t let the negatives get to you. Above all put God at the center in all that you do and he will perfect it all.