In furtherance of her pet project, Kits for Kids, former Miss Tourism Nigeria and Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2012 finalist, Tomi Lydia Salami, will play host to six beauty queens from different parts of the world.
While in the country, the beauty queens representing the USA, Canada, South Africa, India, Botswana and Puerto Rico will help galvanise support and serve as goodwill ambassadors for Salami’s Kits for Kids Africa.
Salami, who has quietly been impacting lives of thousands of impoverished kids across the country, said this year’s programme is a massive educational intervention like never before.
“From May 23 to 26, we will be giving out brand new school bags, sandals, stockings, exercise books, stationeries, lunch bowls, tooth brushes, water bottles and many more to public schools’ pupils in Kwara State,” she stressed.
In this chat with Entertainer, the University of Ilorin graduate of English Language offers more on her life as a model, beauty queen and philanthropist. Enjoy it.
Tell us about yourself?
I am Tomi Lydia Salami, ex-Miss Tourism Nigeria and the CEO, Aurora International, a beauty and lifestyle company. I am also the founder of Aurora Foundation, a charity organisation.
How did you come into pageantry?
I love performing and entertaining; I love beauty and I also love charity work. But it all began in 2006 when I started modeling with an agency. Back then when I was in school, people always complimented me based on my day-to-day look; I always loved to look good. Then came this fateful day when a lady approached me and asked if I had ever modeled before. I said the only modeling I had done was back in secondary school. It was called Miss Cute and I won. She was like ‘wow! We would love you to join our agency.’ But I didn’t get any attention until I went for MBGN in 2012 and emerged as MBGN Face of SelectPro, after which I went for Miss Tourism in Thailand; it was a fantastic experience.
Coming back to pageantry, there’s this talk that pretty girls are often sexually harassed, have you been sexually harassed before?
Oh yes! You get advances every time, but like I used to tell ladies, it’s all up to you. You don’t have to mingle with anybody you don’t want to mingle with; and I think that is how it has been from time immemorial and I don’t think it would go away anytime soon.
There are some people who believe that because you are a lady they will give you terms and conditions before helping you, but you have the power to say no.
I always tell ladies that they shouldn’t make modeling their only source of income because that makes them vulnerable. Acquire education, do business or get a regular job by the side, so if you want to do something and someone says ‘come and rob my belle or something, you won’t.
And I also tell men that if you want to help a lady, you don’t necessarily give her a condition before you do it; just do it and the blessing that will follow will be more than 10 times anything she can offer you.
Can you give me an instance?
Me? (Laughter) Trust me, I see this almost on a daily basis; I experience it a lot.
Really? So, how do you cope?
Yea! I just tell people I am celibate and that is all.
When you emerged Miss Tourism, your parents took it nicely, how did your boyfriend feel?
Back then I had a boyfriend who wasn’t really down with beauty pageantry. The reason was because he was scared of losing me to another man. But then, he was truly supportive; he helped me with lots of things.
So, why are you no more dating him?
You know, we just knew it wouldn’t work out, so we had to part ways.
Are you in a relationship now?
(Laughter) No.
Why?
Well, I am hoping to. I don’t like saying I need a man, so I tell people that I am waiting to be crowned.
What qualities do you look out for in a man?
My man has to be kind hearted, caring, and must have integrity. He should be good looking from the inside to outside because there are lots of men out there who are nothing to write home about.
Do you believe in love?
I believe so much in love. I am an incurable romantic.
Source and Photo credit: The Sun