Tim Kamuzu Banda
24 November 2007
Nairobi — Aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight from New York, Kenya's only supermodel Ajuma Nasenyana had one thing in mind - the desire to have a fellow Kenyan join her on the international modelling circuit.
In fact, it is this desire that made her accept the invitation to come to grace the grand finale of the MNet Catwalk Kenya contest.
As she was introduced to the guests attending last weekend's event at the serene atmosphere of Driftwood Beach Club, Malindi, 23-year-old Ajuma was all smiles. One could easily notice that the international star from Turkana district had indeed noticed something the rest of the audience had not.
To set the tone for what was to come, five professional models joined Ajuma in treating the guests to a great array of creative designs by Kenyan fashion designers. Among the top designers whose works were on display were Kiko Romeo, Monica Kanari, Kanga Collection, Anna Trzbinski and Marula studios.
"How come we do not see you Kenyans wearing these clothes, they are amazing?" wondered Xolile Tsela, a visiting South African auditor and friend who accompanied me to the event. Before I could answer my visibly impressed companion, former radio presenter Olivia Otieno stepped onto the stage to introduce the seven finalists to the adoring audience. Save for their outfits, the seven hopefuls looked uniform, especially in height and complexion, leaving no doubt in anybody's mind that the judges stuck to the international standards in choosing the finalists.
The models who were on parade on the night in their last step towards winning the Sh325,000 cash prize and the dream opportunity of representing the country at the Ford Supermodel contest in New York, were introduced as Ruth Sally Aman, Christine Kahwai, Diana Nakoye, Lisa Wanjira, Maryanne Abinya, Marian Tour and Frida Diba.
The thrill of it is that an audience may have an idea, but it is the judges that have the last word. And as Ajuma walked across the stage clutching the envelope that bore the winner's name, the hall suddenly became so silent you could have heard a needle fall.
"And the winner is...," Ajuma spoke, and before she could finish the sentence, a section of the audience chanted: "Frida!"
Indeed, it was the 15-year-old who was pronounced the winner of MNet Catwalk Kenya, the first ever Kenyans-only TV modelling contest. As she walked to the front to receive her prize, innocence, coyness and surprise were written all over her face, but this did little to hide the beauty and the grace with which she carried herself.
"I entered the competition because everyone kept telling me that I could do well in modelling, and it is only now that I believe them," said Frida, a Form Two student at Kayole secondary school in Nairobi, after she was done posing for the cameras.
Asked what she would do with the money, she said she did not even have a bank account, and it was too early to think about the money.
Frida, a third-born in a family of seven, explains that she had had to take time from school to participate in the contest, and thanked her parents and the principal for their support.
The best in Africa
But she insists that she will go on with her schooling whatever it takes, including if she wins the top prize at the New York contest in January, where she is up against the best from Africa.
"I still wish to be a pilot, and I know that I will be, but for now I want to make Kenya proud as Ajuma has done," Frida said, suddenly becoming confident. As Ajuma takes her flight back to New-York, she says that it is invigorating to feel that, come January, her desire to have a compatriot on the international circuit has been achieved.
In winning the coveted prize and the dream opportunity, Frida has emerged the best out of more than 1,000 hopefuls who were auditioned countrywide. DStv viewers in all parts of the continent will have an opportunity to watch Frida's transformation to a catwalk queen every Sunday upto February.
Mnet Catwalk Kenya had also the larggest prize money in the country's modelling history.
Frida pocketed $5,000 (Sh325,000), while the winning fashion designer, who will be unveiled only during the TV show, bags $10,000 (Sh650,000) Virgin Atlantic - the other major sponsor - has topped the designers' pay package with £1,000 (Sh134,000).
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