The second edition of the Face of Amuwo-Odofin Beauty Pageant, the anticipated pageant contest eligible only to young women who live in Amuwo-Odofin and its environs, held the finale for its December contest last Friday at the Holy Family Event Center, Festac. Though a winner has emerged out of the 26 contestants, the pageant’s credibility has been brought to question following rumours that its main organizer, FestacOnline, swung the votes to favour the eventual crowned winner, who happens to be the daughter of a politician and was never taken in as a contestant.

Apart from being a partner of the Face of Amuwo Odofin pageant, FestacOnline has been the chief promoter of the pageant on social media. As shown in the screenshots below, their Instagram actively engaged in awareness and drive, with their brand logo incorporated into promotional fliers and acquainting the public with the contestants. 

But the current state of their Instagram account tells a different story, as it’s been wiped clean of associations with the pageant. Even more, there are no photos or videos documenting the scenes at the pageant, and no ceremonious unveiling of the winner, even though this picture, screenshotted by the person who brought this to our attention managed to grab.

Given that lots of young women paid a sum of 5000 naira as stipulated entry fee, this reeks of fraud.

If this further goes confirmed, it will once again show how greed, perennial favouritism and politics have plagued our national and cultural lives. The Nigerian pageant industry and its inner workings has always seemed hermetic, and, more often than not, there are have been stories that border on nepotism and the behind-closed-doors affairs that influence the way winners are chosen.

For the Face of Amuwo Odofin, returning for the second time since it showed its maiden show in 2015, the emergence of these kind of reports doesn’t look good for its image.

Anyone with more information about the controversy can reach us via social media.