Ebony black Ayoyemi Ajimatanrareje,
22, is the current Miss Nigeria, Florida, USA. She left the shores of this
country at age 11 to further her studies in the United States of America.
Ayoyemi attended Pampers Private School, Alaka Estate, Surulere and spent a
year at May Day College, Bode Thomas, also in Surulere before she left the
country. She was crowned Miss Nigeria Florida in 2012.
In her interview with Sunday Sun
lately, in Lagos, Ayoyemi spoke about her
tenure which she described as wonderful and quite rewarding even though she
wasn’t lavishly showered with gifts, because the pageant is still in its
budding stage. Excerpts:
Could
you tell us about your experience in the US?
I
left Nigeria at the age of 11 and when I first got to America it was kind
of challenging because I didn’t have any friend. Being a Nigerian, I was raised
up with lots of friends and family around me and I didn’t have that
in America initially and so my grades in school dropped. I wasn’t doing so
well. Other kids used to tease me, because I’m African, it doesn’t matter
what part of Africa you come from, you are African and they teased you about
that.
Eventually,
I was able to adapt. I started doing very well and I graduated in the top
15 of my high school class. I won a scholarship to study at the
prestigious Miami Day College. Initially, I started as a Mass
Communication major, because I really admired Honorable Abike Dabiri-Erewa
who was my role model and I had always wanted to work for CNN. It’s still
there at the back of my mind but I decided eventually to study nursing as I
wanted to care for the sick and infirm. By God’s grace I just finished nursing
school in November 2013 and I’m studying to become a registered nurse. In
the United States, after graduation from college with a major in nursing you
also need to be licensed as a registered nurse to work as a nurse.
You
said it wasn’t easy for you initially in the US. How did you cope with the
teasing and eventually adapted?
It
was not easy at all. Everything was new, a new environment, new school, I
didn’t even have any friends. My brother and parents were my friends. My grades
dropped in school and my dad took some tough measures to improve my
performance. I was enrolled in dances classes and I
became involved in my church’s youth activities. I also joined
the track and field/ cross country sports team in school. This way, I made
friends and my peers started accepting me not just as an African but as
one of the sharpest girls in class, one of the fastest runners in my set and a
talented dancer. So through church and involvement in extra curricular
activities and of course a lot of wide reading I adjusted.
What
was it like when you were growing up in Lagos?
It
was quite an experience. I always walked to school and I was never pampered. I
mean I didn’t lack anything but I wasn’t spoilt. I had the necessary things but
there were things I wanted that my parents couldn’t afford and they would tell
me to be content with all they could provide for me. I was never spoilt or born
with a silver spoon. I was okay.
Could
you tell us about your journey to winning the Miss Nigeria, Florida Pageant?
I
learnt about the pageant in my first year in college and I was encouraged as
well as determined. My friend told me about it and she said “I think you will
be perfect”. She said so, because I was always dressed to school in Ankara with
gele and with trendy shoes to match and she said to me “you will represent
Nigeria”. I thought it was a joke, but I decided to go give it a shot. At that
time too, I was already missing my identity as a Yoruba. When my parents called
and talked to me in Yoruba, I responded in English and my mum would say ‘Se
ogbo Yoruba mo ni, da mi l’oun ni Yoruba’, which in English means ‘Don’t you
understand Yoruba anymore, reply me in Yoruba’. I contested the pageant and it
was a cultural pageant. It was not about beauty or bikini. It was to promote
the Nigerian culture. In my preparation, I went online and I asked my
grandmother things about Ondo State since we’re from Ondo state. I also asked
about the Osemawe of Ondo, the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan and the
Awujale of Ijebu. I also learnt how to say hello in Hausa language and in Ibo
language. I decided to put all together for a cultural presentation that
represents Nigeria not just the Yoruba. My cultural presentation was actually
titled I am Nigeria. That helped me as well and opened my eyes to what Nigeria
is now and not Nigeria that I knew 10 years earlier.
What
have you been doing lately?
I
visited Nigeria in May 2013 and it was my first trip back home since I left
Nigeria and things have changed. It was very interesting and better of course. I
took a trip with friends to Enugu to visit Patience Uzorkwu(Mama Gee) and the orphanage.
We raised some money before we came last year and we bought tablets and bibles.
We presented them to the kids at the church Mama Gee attends. It was a
beautiful experience for me because I like it when people smile no matter what they’re
going through. My name is Ayoyemi which means ‘I ought to be joyful’ so I’m
always smiling. I like people around me to be happy and have a positive
attitude. I came back this time because I’m hoping to relocate to Nigeria
pretty soon. I’m starting my foundation which I named Joy and Hope Foundation
for the less privileged , especially the physically and mentally challenged. I
want to get them off the streets, provide wheel chairs for the physically
challenged as well as prosthetic limbs which are cheaper in America. We will
get the government as well as Nigerians in the Diaspora involved, because it’s
for Nigeria. That is my vision for now. Also, I am venturing into the music
industry.
I
have been the praise team leader in my church back in Miami for about 7 years
now. I’m the Music Director of my church, Jesus The Christ Church. On this
trip, I was able to go to the studio to begin work on my single. It’s a lot
going on for me right now.
Is
it gospel music?
No,
it’s not gospel but music that make sense. It’s inspirational. It’s not vulgar
or base. I’m happy being home. There is no place like home.
Many
Nigerian youths want to go to America and you want to come back to Nigeria.
Why?
Youths
who want to come to America think it’s a greener pasture, but the thing is, if
you are not hard working here, you can’t go to America and make it. It doesn’t
work like that. It’s harder and tougher out there. You have to struggle to pay
your bills, you pay for your car, you pay for your housing and if you own the
house you may have to pay mortgage and then the taxes. I feel the money is in
Nigeria, we have the resources. People in Nigeria are very intelligent. If you
go abroad, Nigerians own businesses and in schools they are top of their
classes. Even in Harvard University, you have Nigerian professors. My take is
that Nigerians should come back home and use that knowledge to build up our
country.
What
was your reward for winning the pageant?
Since
it’s a fairly new pageant, I didn’t get a car. I got a free trip to come home,
which is the best thing ever. I have been in the United States for ten years. I
got to meet government officials and shared my dreams with them. When there is
an event in Miami or any other state in America I attend as Miss Nigeria,
Florida. I speak to the youths and for me that’s big. The opportunity that the
pageant has given me is big whether or not I was given a gift it’s ok.
You
look simple, no nail polish or make-up. Is that deliberate and why?
I’m
very down to earth and laid back. I don’t see myself bigger than anybody else.
I really cherish natural beauty and I feel humility is very important.
What
did you wear for the contest?
We
had evening gown, cultural presentation attire and white tee shirt and jeans.
The evening attire had to be African. Whoever won like I did, wherever you go
with your sash and your crown, you have to represent Nigeria with what you have
on. No English attire is allowed. It’s either ankara or lace or any kind of
attire that is Nigerian because you are the cultural ambassador.
Who
is your role model?
I
have a few role models. My parents are definitely the first. Their teachings on
love, life and their values make me want to emulate them. Their unshakeable faith
in God as well as their industrious lifestyle makes me look up to them. They
lead by example. For instance, my father, Rev. (Dr) Yemi Ajimatanrareje has
never lied to me a day in his life and he’s always reminding me that if you do
what is right you will have no reason to lie. He lives and teaches by example.
I would say Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa is my role model too since I was a little
girl. Her grace, her poise, her fluent English and the way she carries herself
generally inspire me. Those are the qualities I want people to see in me and
fall in love with.
Will
your foundation be based in Nigeria or the US?
It will be based in Nigeria but registered in both the United States and
Nigeria.
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