Post date: Oct 01, 2012 4:30:14 PM
LAGOS NIGERIA (SEPTEMBER 29, 2012) (REUTERS) - After weeks of rigorous training and rehearsals, 10 female and male models strutted down the catwalk wearing some of the latest creations from Nigeria's top designers, at a glamourous event held in the country's capital, Lagos this past weekend.
International acclaimed modeling competition, Elite Model Look which takes place in over 80 different countries is back in Nigeria for its 5th edition. This year, the competition also included a search for the Male face of Nigeria.
The models were competing in the finals of the 2012 Elite Model Look Nigeria.Now in its fifth edition in Nigeria, the prestigious international competition also included a search for the male face of Elite Model Nigeria, a first in the competition's history.
"This competition is one of the competitions that has taken modelling in Nigeria from infancy and it's growing with it, I think this should be the fifth edition and it's been getting better and better and I think modelling in Nigeria is not where it's supposed to be at yet, but if we keep this up, we're going to go," said one guest at the event, Ayodele Davina.
Stephane Pescimoro, the international director for Elite Model Look, who was one of the judges, said more agents were scouting for models in recent years, because the growing local talent in Africa's most populous nation.
"What is unique in Nigeria, it's an extremely large population, meanwhile, of course it's important because we can find beauty here, and it's also mixed because from the North to the South, and to the West, you can see the difference and the girls are very tall, very thin, and they really have the model look," he said.
In the female category, 17-year old Moyinoluwa Arowosola, was named 2012 Elite Model Look, to the delight of the many.
Arowosola said that despite facing some challenges in the beginning, she is excited to have won the prestigious prize.
"It was very tough, learning the walks and everything because I had problems with heels, with my legs but thank God I was able to strut the runway today and I was made the winner of Elite model look 2012," she said.
Eighteen-year-old Alvin Dayaffin, representing the Niger Delta region was selected as the winner of the male category.
"I'm really happy, I'm really happy, I didn't see it coming, as a matter of fact, seconds before it was announced, I was almost breaking down but oh my God, I'm very grateful," Alvin said.
The winners will join the finalists of 80 other countries and will participate in the world finals that will take place in China in December .