I Will Make Ghana Proud - Miss Universe Ghana

Akpene Diata Hoggar, who was crowned the winner of the 2018 pageant at the Omanye Hall of the Labadi Beach Hotel on Saturday night, says she hopes to emerge the winner at the Miss Universe international pageant later in December.

Speaking in an interview with Lexis Bill on Drive Time on Joy FM Monday, Ms Hoggar said “I am excited. Thailand is an exciting country I want to go to.”

“I am hoping to win the crown and make Ghana proud,” she added.

At Saturday night’s finale, she impressed judges Sean Guy, Shirley Frimpong Manso, Yvonne Nelson, Miss Reykjavik (Miss Universe Iceland), Manuela Osk (Miss Universe 2003 contestant), and Emmanuel Kojo-Jones Mensah, to win the ultimate nod.

The fresh queen, who lives in Accra, studied Management Information System at Ashesi University. She is also Creative Consultant, a co-founder of Peer Relief and she aspires to become a global change agent.

Akpene Diata Hoggar, who is a model, blogger, and an entrepreneur, was part of the ten lucky finalists, who braved the odds and survived the numerous tests, to stand out of over 200 ladies who eyed ‘Ghana’s Next Sweetheart’ some weeks ago.

Asked about the finale, she said “it was challenging,” because “all the girls were amazing.”

Her “mentality has totally changed,” because of the competition and “now I believe I can… it’s just the beginning.”

Apart from the coveted crown, she also went home with a brand new car, one-year contract with the Lab Modeling Agency in Milan, Italy; one-year contract as the Face of ‘So aesthetic’, one-year supply of GTP fabrics, makeup products for one year, ¢10,000 worth of Shoes from Shoe Zone and one- year hair services and spa treatments by First Choice Beauty Salon.

The pageant, organised by Maltz Promotions, led by Menaye Donkor, saw Vanessa Tekor Akuetteh, a budding paralegal and a model, emerge first-runner up. She had 111 points. Silvia Commodore, who had 108 points, was adjudged second runner-up.