Miss Africa USA 2010: Contestant Theresa Nkafu Wenja from Cameroon

UGPulse Promo

School/Institution: Morgan State University

Major/minor: Accounting and Business

Giving back:

• Saint Mathias The Apostle Catholic Church, Lanham, MD, January 2003- August 2006
  Active member of the youth group. The youth group is a gathering of children in high school to read the Bible, sing and participate in different activities in the community. Such activities include caroling at local hospitals such as Doctors Community Hospital, tutoring younger members of the church, singing in the church choir, participating in the Thanksgiving food drive etc.
• African Women's Development Foundation Inc, Silver Spring, MD, November 2009.
  Donated toys to be shipped to the orphaned and sick children of Cameroon.
• Peace of Mind Services, Baltimore, MD, December 2009
  Participation in the Christmas party, as well as donation of toys to the sick children of the Good Samaritan Hospital.
• Belmont Elementary School, Baltimore, MD, January 2010
  Tutoring children grades 1-5.
• Dream Girls Mentoring Program, Baltimore, MD, January 2010
  Mentoring young teen mothers.

UGPulse:The current Miss Africa USA, 2008 Miss South Africa Nyasha Zimucha, has elevated the pageant to a whole new level. The game has changed in a big way. What would you bring to the pageant at the get-go, if you were to win Miss Africa USA 2010?

First and foremost I would like to applaud Miss Nyasha Zimucha on her many great achievements, as the reigning Ms. Africa USA. She is truly a great example of how every woman should aspire to be. If I were to win Miss Africa USA 2010, not only would I be the first Cameroonian to win the title, but I would also be the first plus size winner.  Many plus size women dream of becoming Ms. Africa or even Ms. America; however the image most often associated with the women who win these pageants, is one of a small frame.  If you were to pick up a magazine today, a large percentage of the actresses, singers and models are thin; these women have to be under a certain size and look a certain way.  Contesting in the Miss Africa USA 2010 is a way for me to diminish the perception that being beautiful means you have to be thin.  I am here to inspire all plus size women to dream big, as well as open the door of opportunity to all plus size women who were ever told that they were 'too large' or a 'little too chubby'.

A person's weight does not define true beauty.  True beauty, is defined by the way you shower others with your love; the way you inspire and uplift those who are down; and the way you care for others who are in need.  It is your confidence, grace and many other characteristics that make you beautiful. Many people have criticized me for running for Miss Africa USA and have tried to put me down because I am plus size, but I want these people to know that physical beauty is not what the Miss Africa USA pageant is about.   If I were to win this pageant, I would be bringing with me the encouragement, support and confidence that plus size women need to achieve their dreams.  I want all plus size women all over the world to know that as long as you're healthy, your weight should not be a problem that you have to battle with everyday. God made us all unique individuals, and we should all love ourselves just the way we are. 

Contestant Theresa Nkafu Wenja from Cameroon.

UGPulse:Tell us about the country you represent? Are all its women as beautiful as yourself?

I am representing the beautiful country of Cameroon, which is also known as "Africa in Miniature" because it exhibits all major climates and vegetation of Africa. Many people do not know the meaning behind the colors (green, red and yellow) of the Cameroonian flag. These colors are known as the pan African colors, where Green represents the rich forest vegetation of Cameroon's southern region and hope for the future. Red represents independence and unity and yellow symbolizes the savannas in the north and the sun as the source of Cameroon's happiness. The star stands for the unity of the country. The Cameroonian flag sends out an important and powerful message to our community that helps us to realize that we are all brothers and sisters. We stand for "Peace, Work, and Fatherland."

We need to get together as one, to celebrate and embrace not only our culture and continent but also ourselves.  We also need to give back to show appreciation and love for our continent. What many of us do not realize is that we were given a great opportunity to come to this great nation to experience a better life. Through our knowledge and experiences, we should not only think of ourselves, but to think of our homeland and reach out to our communities by giving back and encouraging not just unity, but peace, love and hope towards one another.

By the way, I definitely forgot to mention that we have one of the best football (soccer) team in the world.

Alll the women ARE just as beautiful as myself and very hardworking.

UGPulse:After what he did to Rihanna, would you buy another Chris Brown song or CD? What do you think about the whole situation? 

The situation with Rihanna and Chris Brown is a reality that happens in many relationships around the world.  Millions of women each day suffer from verbal, physical, emotional and sexual abuse by their partners.  Many women who have not experienced a healthy relationship do not know what it means to be truly loved and cared for.  They do not know what takes place in a healthy relationship, so when they are abused, and instead of leaving, they stay. 

When this situation came out about Rihanna and Chris Brown, I was shocked that this young man who seemed to be always joyful and amiable could do such a thing.  But that is the point.  An abuser does not have a particular face or wear a mask; you do not know who an abuser is onset.  That is why it is important to help young women understand what domestic abuse is and recognize its signs. In doing so, these women can get the help they need to get out of their unhealthy relationship or avoid ever being in one.  There are thousands of organizations around the world that help young women in violent relationships.  I one day hope that more of them migrate to other second and third world countries, such as Africa, where domestic violence is often overlooked.

I applaud Rihanna for eventually leaving Chris Brown and not getting back into a relationship with him. It takes a strong and audacious woman to do that.  As for buying another Chris Brown CD or songs, I never bought one in the past so I cannot say I will buy one in the future.  I am not discouraging anyone to buy his music because he is obviously very talented and gifted.  All I can do is hope and pray that Chris Brown gets the help he needs to never do what he did again, as well as wish him the best in his music career.

Contestant Theresa Nkafu Wenja from Cameroon.

UGPulse:What do men say is the sexiest thing about you?

Most men say that the sexiest thing about me is my smile.  However, I think that the love that I have for myself which is revealed by my smile as well as my confidence and personality is what men find sexy about me.  Now I am not vain nor am I arrogant, but I find that many young women do not truly love themselves or they are very insecure about their appearances or characteristics.   Harsh experiences or situations drag many young women into feelings of hate, loneliness and/or sadness, which may lead to dreadful choices.  A woman that you may think is the happiest person in the world may actually be the saddest and a woman who you think is a very strong person may be weak.  With this lack of self-love, many young women find themselves depressed or having to live up to someone else's expectations, but I am here to tell all women that in order to live your life you must truly love and appreciate yourself.

God has given me the love that I need to appreciate every ounce of myself and I look forward to helping other young women do the same.  Growing up I, like many other girls, was faced with the pressure of doing things to try and fit in with my peers. However, today I walk with confidence and a smile on my face triumphing peer pressure and doing what I know is best for me.  I heard my best friend once say, "To dream of the person you would like to be is a waste of the person you are."  This quote made me realize that every second a young woman may waste focusing on what she does not like about herself, she looses her identity.  Today I want all women to know that love never fails. I want them to love themselves unconditionally, so everyday when they wake up, they too can have a 'sexy' smile on their face.

Contestant Theresa Nkafu Wenja from Cameroon.