Miss Verolyn Veseh Vonleh, a 21- year-old representing Rivercess County- South- Central Liberia, a Student of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) was crown the Miss Liberia 2022 during the early hours of Sunday after weeks of rigorous mentoring and modeling sessions as well as voting process via TipMe Liberia.
Verolyn is also said to be originated from Nimba County, given her parents (father) Vonlehtay Vonleh who hail from Gbor Wehplay, Nimba County, a claim she has not denied.
She beat fellow contestants Miss Kindness Wilson of (Grand Gedeh County ) as 1st Runner-up and Miss Joicet Jartu Fodey of (Grand Cape Mount) as 2nd Runner-up, to replaced beautiful Nimba County Model, Wokie Dolo, who had held the title for the last five years, when she won it in 2016. Since than their has been hostage of the event.
Verolyn entertained and impressed the judges and the crowed alike during the twelve 12 hours program went home with mouth watering prizes. She will represent Liberia in Miss World 2023 pageant next year.
In an interview with reporters the elated winner, she said , “l am very happy and l hope to use my position to put smiles on the face of children and above faces on other societal issue”.
All the 15 beautiful ladies from the 15 political subdivisions of Liberia (counties), who participated in the preliminary round of the pageant made it to final stage of the competition.
The 15 contestants include, Faith Flourishing Collins of Gbarpolu County, Amb.Linda Doe of Bomi County, Favour Topoe – representing Grand Kru County, Kindness Wilson of Grand Gedeh County, Kariah Dorley of Rivergee County, Georgia Leela Bemah of Bong County, Tracy T. Nagbo of Lofa County, Antoinette Benson- representing the County Sinoe, Julia D. Moore- Grand Bassa County,.
Others are Alice Rozel Quaye- Maryland County, Joicet Jartu Foday- Grand Cape Mount County, Rebina Carson- Nimba County, Lelai Bendu Yekelorde- Margibi County, and Willimena Lela- Murlyne- Brown of Montserrado County.
The filled to capacity Centennial Pavilion hall came alive when the show started amidst ,crow cheering for their contestant. The ladies introduced the day undertaking a routine drill to the delight of the crowd who filled every bit of the Centennial Pavilion Center Monrovia, despite fears that various events being held around the capital will take the shine out of the nation’s foremost beauty pageant.
It can be recalled on May 13, 2022, the 25th Edition of Miss Liberia kick-off was held at the Monrovia City Hall at which four contestants from Montserrado, Grand Gedeh, Grand Cape Mount and Maryland Counties were dropped.
It was a night of culture, entertainment and competition, and some of Liberia’s biggest stars, fashion promoters and socialites were featured as they graced the occasion, which also honored past and present icons.
Organized by the XL Entertainment, with greenlight from the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), the head of the event, Zubin Cooper, CEO XL Entertainment, mentioned that this year’s pageant is not only about having Miss Liberia but to also to restore the brand of the pageant.
Cooper pointed out that one of the main objectives for this year’s pageant was to ensure that they present a process that is free, fair and transparent as possible that allows all Liberians to have an input on who should be crowned as the next Queen.
He added that the team for this year’s Miss Liberia is: “Celebrating Liberia, its Culture and Tourism.”
Cooper mentioned that it has been alleged that in Liberian pageantry, there are instances of cheating, adding that the host wants to make sure that accountability and transparency are the hallmark of the pageant going forward.
Miss Liberia is one of the events in Liberia that is national in nature, we have the county meet and Miss Liberia where all 15 counties participate,” Cooper stated.
He added: “In order for Miss Liberia and the contestants to have credibility and the full support of all Liberians, the process has to be free, fair and transparent.”
He noted that at XL Entertainment, “we are determined that this process will not only be free, fair and transparent but will engage and commit that going forward there will be a system and structure in place that others will follow so that this will set a stage for a new era for Liberia in pageantry.
According to him, the event was comprises of public voting component which had comprises of 40 percent of the total votes, while the remaining 60 percent of the votes, was determined by the judges.
Cooper indicated that the host has also engaged a technology partner called MWETANA Consulting Group and they have developed a Miss Liberia App which will be launched on the June 4 and a digital machines platform for the judges.
