In conversation with Charles Umege, Miss Supermodel Worldwide national director from Nigeria

Charles Umege from Port Harcourt is the current national director of international modelling competition – Miss Supermodel Worldwide. He is responsible for selecting Nigeria’s delegates for Miss Supermodel Worldwide competition. Charles runs his own national pageant organization named Miss Orient Foundation Worldwide. In this exclusive interview, he talks about his tryst with pageantry and also about his association with the Miss Supermodel Worldwide competition.

Q. Beauty pageant industry is rapidly growing. Tell us about your tryst with pageantry. When did you enter this fascinating world of beauty pageants?
Charles Umege: I joined the beauty pageant industry in 2015 because of my vision to reorient the global image of girl child and its connection with social vices. I have tried my best to create associations in different countries to sustain this vision on international level. So far, we have formed association with twelve countries and appointed national directors their and we also have raised a community of models and advocates in different countries to sustain and project this vision in these different nations.

Q. Tell us something about your association with Miss Supermodel Worldwide contest.
Charles Umege: My association with Miss Supermodel Worldwide has been cordial. I have also learnt a lot from Mr. Sandeep Kumar, the founder of Miss Supermodel Worldwide competition. I respect him a lot because of his foresight, honesty of purpose and dedication to raise beauty queens / titleholders for the furtherance of the vision of Miss Supermodel Worldwide organization. Miss Supermodel Worldwide is the fastest growing international modelling competition based in South Asian region. The contest does not only focus on the appearance of the participants, it has a much broader vision and qualities like personality, confidence, presentation, behavior and other non-superficial attributes of the participants also play a great role. That is why I chose to get associated with this contest. It also focuses on the inner beauty of the candidates.

Q. In your opinion, what are the major challenges faced by a national director or a beauty pageant director?
Charles Umege: Sponsorship is one of the major challenges that a national director faces other than that I believe the selection of the right delegate is also equally important. We national directors have to analyze a lot of things before announcing the name of the candidate who would represent the nation at an international pageant. The main reason for that is when you select a candidate for an international pageant, that candidate no longer remains an individual. He / she becomes the face of the nation that he / she is representing. So, it is a very difficult and crucial decision that one has to make. In addition, with steadfastness and determination, one can overcome.

Q. What are the key responsibilities of a national director or a pageant director?
Charles Umege: Selecting the best candidate out of a whole lot of contestants in a free and fair platform should be the key responsibility of any pageant organizer.

Q. While selecting a candidate for an international pageant, what are the major things that you take under consideration?
Charles Umege: The main thing that I keep in mind is to find a candidate who understands how crucial and big the responsibility of representing one’s nation is. A candidate who can do justice to the title he / she wins and who can fulfil the responsibilities that come with the crown. Other than that, confidence, personality, intellect and humility are few of the key qualities that I believe are required to be taken under consideration while selecting a candidate.  

Q. When you look back in time, what do you believe has been your greatest lesson? 
Charles Umege: My greatest lesson has been to believe in myself. People tend to follow the crowd. I have learnt not to be influenced negatively by others opinion whenever I set out to accomplish a task.

Q. Lastly, any message for the readers and your well-wishers.
Charles Umege: Currently, the world is facing a pandemic, I wish to reassure everyone to adhere to all safety precautions, don’t Panic and pray for the world. This phase shall surely pass. Thank you.