New Miss Malaika South Sudan Preliminaries Held Amid Acrimony

By Juma John Stephen

JUBA, 28 October 2009 (Gurtong) – Those selected came from across South Sudan’s states and included; Atong Ajok, Friday Joan Douth, Nyangua John and Rebecca Nyabiliny Deng from Jonglei State, Zungia Ezo from Unity State, Nyangua Nyangana and Giouk William from Upper Nile State, Suzan Nyajong from Northern Bahr el Ghazi State, Janet William Mawenien from Warrap State, Suzan Nyariak from Lakes State and Ajonya Beatrice from Central Equatoria State.

However, the announcement of the preliminary winners drew mixed reactions with many saying the nominations were biased.

Most of the eliminated contestants and trainers rejected the results, saying that some excellent contestants were left out unfairly.

They cited a contestant from Eastern Equatoria, Anne Ido Arkangjelo, and a Lotuko, currently studying at Kigali Institute of Science in Rwanda, whom they said was exemplary yet she was left out of the final list.

Showcasing South Sudanese beauty: A section of contestants in the New Miss Malaika 2009 / 2010 preliminaries. [©Gurtong]

“The girl is one of the best contestants and even better than some of us, but the judges eliminated her, what can we say?” lamented one of the winners who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation.

“Yes, I’m through to the next stage but really one of the best girls whom we knew would make it through to the finals has been left out and this is unfair”, she added.

A contestant from Eastern Equatoria who was eliminated said: “The judgment is obviously biased. We need fair judgment and the judges must be independent in their judgment. It is not fair that every year only contestants from the Nuer and the Dinka communities go through to the most competitive stages just because of their financial status but not beauty”.

Trainers were also not impressed with the outcome of the preliminaries and vowed to push for the inclusion of those “who had been unfairly eliminated.

“I’m surprised with the judgment as one of the best girls whom we thought would make it through to be the crown queen was eliminated. I am a trainer and I know girls who can best represent South Sudan”, said a trainer who requested anonymity.

According to information gathered from the backroom by Gurtong, most of the contestants and the trainers said there is a tribal element on the judgment and called for fairness to all contestants regardless of their state of origin.
 
However, amidst the entire outcry, no judge could be reached for comment as they hurriedly left the venue immediately after the session.

 
The chairman of the organising committee Lam Tungwar too declined to give any statement on the matter.

The event that is being organised by Southern Sudan Artists Association with sponsorship from Vivacell will end on 5 December 2009 when the winner will be known.