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Regina Askia-Williams | |
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Born | Imaobong Regina Askia Usoro 16 December 1967 Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
Other names | Regina Askia |
Alma mater | University of Calabar University of Lagos Wagner College |
Occupation(s) | Nurse practitioner, actress, former model |
Beauty pageant titleholder | |
Title | Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1989, Miss Unilag 88 |
Hair colour | Brown |
Eye colour | Hazel |
Major competition(s) | Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1989 |
Regina Askia-Williams (born Imaobong Regina of Askia Usoro on December 16, 1967) is a Nigerian-born, American-based actress, model, and former beauty Queen of the University of Lagos titleholder. She received her certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and practices in New York City. She writes and speaks publicly advocating for African outreach in children's health, education, and economic development. [1] [2] [3] [4]
In 1988, Askia-Williams, a former medical student who had transferred from the University of Calabar to the University of Lagos, was crowned Miss Unilag. That same year, she placed second in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) contest. In 1989, she assumed the title of MBGN when winner Bianca Onoh resigned. In 1990, Askia-Williams represented Nigeria at Miss Charm International held in Leningrad, Russia, and came second. [5] She was the first Nigerian to compete at the Miss International pageant in Japan, where she was awarded most outstanding traditional costume.
After gaining public recognition in Nigeria as a beauty pageant winner, a modeling career opened up for Askia-Williams. She appeared in several Nigerian print and television commercials, including international accounts Visine®. Chicken George fast food, Kessingsheen Hair Care, and boutique chain Collectibles. She also worked on several runway shows, and in 2007, she modeled for the 2000-N-Six face cleansing range alongside her daughter, model Stephanie Hornecker. [6] In 2006, Askia-Williams hosted a charity fashion show at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York, which displayed the creations of top African designers and her own label Regine Fashions. [7]
Askia-Williams's acting break came in 1993, when she played gold-digger "Tokunbo Johnson" in the Nigerian soap Fortunes (later Mega Fortunes) on NTA Network, a role which earned her critical acclaim and recognition as a Nigerian actress. As a result, Askia-Williams starred in several "Nollywood" films during the 1990s and early 2000s, most of which were filmed to be released directly to video to a wide audience in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana, [8] and broadcast by Nigerian television networks ITV, StarTV, and the state broadcaster TVT. [9] [10] She took some time off[when} and returned to acting in a Nigerian film entitled Web. [11] She received the "Best Actress in Nigeria" award by Afro Hollywood London for her performance in 2000 [ref].
Askia-Williams currently lives in America with her family. She is a graduate of the University of Lagos, Nigeria with a degree in Biology. She earned her nursing degree at Wagner College in the United States. [12] [13] [14] and is now a family nurse practitioner practicing in New York City. [15] [16] [17] [18] Only three months after relocating to New York City with her family, [19] [20] she survived the attack on the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. She escaped from the building, where she worked at the time. [19] [20]
Askia-Williams is married to American Rudolph 'Rudy' Williams, nephew of Ron Everette and grandson of Fess Williams. The couple have two children together: daughter Teesa Olympia and son Rudolph Junior. Askia-Williams has another daughter from a previous relationship, model Stephanie Horneck.
Askia-Williams has maintained an active interest in supporting medical outreach in Nigeria. In 2005, she hosted a fashion show at the Nigerian Embassy in New York City to raise awareness of the plight of children's social amenities in Nigeria. [7]
In 2007, Askia-Williams was among several African women given an award by the Celebrating African Motherhood Organization (CAM) at a gala event in Washington, D.C. [21]
Askia-Williams continues to promote greater collaboration between Africa and its diaspora with fashion shows as well as medical missions to Africa. She co-hosts an Internet broadcast discussion program, African Health Dialogues. The program covers such topics as the effectiveness of mobile medical clinics in Africa. [22] Her written articles have also appeared online, and in the "Saturday Clinic" series in the Nigerian newspaper This Day. [14] [23]
As an actress, Askia-Williams has starred in the following films: [24]
Chief Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite 'Agbani' Darego, MFR is a Nigerian model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 2001. She was the first black African to win Miss World.
The University of Lagos is a public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria and was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the first generation universities in Nigeria and is ranked among the top universities in the country in major education publications. The university presently has three campuses in the mainland of Lagos. Whereas two of its campuses are located at Yaba, it's college of medicine is located at Idi-Araba, Surulere. Its main campus is largely surrounded by the Lagos lagoon and has 802 acres of land. The University of Lagos currently admits over 9,000 undergraduate students annually and enrolls over 57,000 students.
The University of Calabar is a federal university situated in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. It is one of Nigeria's second-generation federal universities. The University of Calabar was a campus of the University of Nigeria until 1975. The present Vice Chancellor is Dr. Florence B. Obi (Professor). The post of the DVC (Academic) is held by Dr. Angela Oyo Ita (Professor), while Dr. Grace Eno Nta (Professor) is the current DVC (Administration).
The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria – often abbreviated as MBGN – is a pageant organised by Silverbird Group with the main purpose of sending representatives to international competitions. Originally known as Miss Universe Nigeria, it was renamed Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria after news publishers Daily Times lost their license to send delegates from rival contest Miss Nigeria to Miss World. Since 2005, the pageant has produced multiple representatives, but the MBGN World recipient is considered the overall winner. Miss Universe Nigeria was reestablished in 2023, breaking away from MBGN and operating as an entirely different pageant.
Miss Nigeria is an annual pageant showcasing positive attributes of Nigerian women, and awarding university scholarships.The winner is expected to portray exemplary qualities whilst serving as a role model to young women in the country. The pageant is currently organised by Daily Times.
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