Miss Makerere speaks
Mar 26, 2004
SHE is elegant, buoyant and has beauty and brains to match which is probably why Melissa Acen was crowned Miss Makerere University on March 13. But soon after enthronement there were reports about the lack of transparency surrounding the legitimacy of her triumph
SHE is elegant, buoyant and has beauty and brains to match which is probably why Melissa Acen was crowned Miss Makerere University on March 13. But soon after enthronement there were reports about the lack of transparency surrounding the legitimacy of her triumph. She spoke to Raphael Okello and Solomon Muyita about herself, her dreams and aspirations.
QUESTION: The media is already featuring scandalous stories about you. How are you coping?
ANSWER: (Looks indifferent) I guess when you become some kind of public figure, you are always under scrutiny. Everybody wants to know what you are doing. If there isn’t anything sensational about you to sell the paper, the media will always create something. It is sad and ridiculous that the papers have to be the ones to tell me ‘what I did.’ It is not easy but I just have to learn to ignore whatever is written or said about me.
Is there some truth in reports about the sandals and favouritism regarding your win?
A: Obviously, that is a reaction expected after every contest. The fact is those who don’t win are always discontented and will say anything for the sake of it. I won on merit. The only scandal I am aware of is about the money (gate collections) that was reportedly swindled...but I think it was later recovered.
There is no smoke without fire, tell us what really happened.
How sure are they about what they are saying? As far as I am concerned, there was absolutely nothing wrong.
Who is Melissa Mary Acen?
I am a 21-year-old second year student at Makerere University aspiring for a Bachelor of Arts. That is the little I can say. And oh, I am a non-resident student. I stay in Garden Courts Hostel.
Tell us about your family, where do you reside?
I stay in Bugolobi with my dad, Abel Ekwan. I am the first-born of a family of four girls. My mom, Margaret Ekwan, is a journalist based in the UK while my dad is a businessman.
How does it feel being the ‘most beautiful’ girl at Makerere University?
It feels great (laughter). Everyone looks up to you. So you have to try and live up to people’s expectations.
What motivated you to take part in this contest?
I had always been interested in doing something along this line. So, when the beauty pageant came up at the university, I decided to take part. Besides, it was something similar to joining a modelling firm (chuckles).
What do you hope to achieve as Miss Makerere?
Many things. But the most pressing issue at campus is HIVAIDS awareness campaigns. Since this is one of the main items on my agenda, I have to join the promotion for responsible and safe living amongst the youth and have been sensitising them about AIDS and how to live a responsible life. Besides that, I want to try and improve the welfare of the university students. Take for instance, the private students who have to endure long and stressing queues at the bank while paying for their tuition. I will also make sure the non resident Government students get their allowances in time. Then there is this issue of missing results. The university should become a bit serious and handle people’s papers with caution. It is not easy to re-sit an exam.
In the halls of residence, I want to improve on the sanitation. The corridors, toilets and bathrooms in the halls need to be kept clear and clean. The same applies to the kitchen.
How do you intend to tackle the prevalent HIV/AIDS scourge?
I want to promote abstinence because it is a sure way of avoiding HIV/AIDS. If we tell the people about its advantages over protected sex, I think they can change. But those who can’t really, really abstain are advised to use a condom. Besides that, a behavioural change programme would be another good thing to launch.
It appears you are up for a busy schedule. Don’t you think the programmes might affect your academics?
Umm...not really. I just have to learn how to strike a balance between my schedule as beauty queen and student. So far, I am making it a point to attend all my lectures and I will also ensure that I hand in all my coursework in time.
Beauty pageants are always looked at with suspicion. Why?
It’s because most people have the notion that pageants are all about parading young beautiful girls before ‘hungry’ men. On the contrary, beauty pageants provide girls with an opportunity to discover and exploit their potential, develop their confidence and they acts as stepping-stones for so many opportunities.
You seem ambitious person. What do you want to be?
I want to be a social worker and a super model. I had trained with Ziper Models two days before the pageant but at the moment I am not doing anything in that regard.
Who is your role model?
The late Princes Diana, but in the modelling world it is Nigerian super model Oluchi.
QUESTION: The media is already featuring scandalous stories about you. How are you coping?
ANSWER: (Looks indifferent) I guess when you become some kind of public figure, you are always under scrutiny. Everybody wants to know what you are doing. If there isn’t anything sensational about you to sell the paper, the media will always create something. It is sad and ridiculous that the papers have to be the ones to tell me ‘what I did.’ It is not easy but I just have to learn to ignore whatever is written or said about me.
Is there some truth in reports about the sandals and favouritism regarding your win?
A: Obviously, that is a reaction expected after every contest. The fact is those who don’t win are always discontented and will say anything for the sake of it. I won on merit. The only scandal I am aware of is about the money (gate collections) that was reportedly swindled...but I think it was later recovered.
There is no smoke without fire, tell us what really happened.
How sure are they about what they are saying? As far as I am concerned, there was absolutely nothing wrong.
Who is Melissa Mary Acen?
I am a 21-year-old second year student at Makerere University aspiring for a Bachelor of Arts. That is the little I can say. And oh, I am a non-resident student. I stay in Garden Courts Hostel.
Tell us about your family, where do you reside?
I stay in Bugolobi with my dad, Abel Ekwan. I am the first-born of a family of four girls. My mom, Margaret Ekwan, is a journalist based in the UK while my dad is a businessman.
How does it feel being the ‘most beautiful’ girl at Makerere University?
It feels great (laughter). Everyone looks up to you. So you have to try and live up to people’s expectations.
What motivated you to take part in this contest?
I had always been interested in doing something along this line. So, when the beauty pageant came up at the university, I decided to take part. Besides, it was something similar to joining a modelling firm (chuckles).
What do you hope to achieve as Miss Makerere?
Many things. But the most pressing issue at campus is HIVAIDS awareness campaigns. Since this is one of the main items on my agenda, I have to join the promotion for responsible and safe living amongst the youth and have been sensitising them about AIDS and how to live a responsible life. Besides that, I want to try and improve the welfare of the university students. Take for instance, the private students who have to endure long and stressing queues at the bank while paying for their tuition. I will also make sure the non resident Government students get their allowances in time. Then there is this issue of missing results. The university should become a bit serious and handle people’s papers with caution. It is not easy to re-sit an exam.
In the halls of residence, I want to improve on the sanitation. The corridors, toilets and bathrooms in the halls need to be kept clear and clean. The same applies to the kitchen.
How do you intend to tackle the prevalent HIV/AIDS scourge?
I want to promote abstinence because it is a sure way of avoiding HIV/AIDS. If we tell the people about its advantages over protected sex, I think they can change. But those who can’t really, really abstain are advised to use a condom. Besides that, a behavioural change programme would be another good thing to launch.
It appears you are up for a busy schedule. Don’t you think the programmes might affect your academics?
Umm...not really. I just have to learn how to strike a balance between my schedule as beauty queen and student. So far, I am making it a point to attend all my lectures and I will also ensure that I hand in all my coursework in time.
Beauty pageants are always looked at with suspicion. Why?
It’s because most people have the notion that pageants are all about parading young beautiful girls before ‘hungry’ men. On the contrary, beauty pageants provide girls with an opportunity to discover and exploit their potential, develop their confidence and they acts as stepping-stones for so many opportunities.
You seem ambitious person. What do you want to be?
I want to be a social worker and a super model. I had trained with Ziper Models two days before the pageant but at the moment I am not doing anything in that regard.
Who is your role model?
The late Princes Diana, but in the modelling world it is Nigerian super model Oluchi.