Miss World eager to see Jamaica
Twenty one year old Miss World, Azra Akin, is all smiles as she slides gracefully out of the sleek Peugeot and into the lobby of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Guests stop and stare. The just-landed British Airways crew stop to chat to her. She’s totally comfortable, greeting all with a warm smile and exchanging a few words with as many as possible. Dressed comfortably in black tailored trousers and an off-the-shoulder silk and wool top, she appears effortlessly charming. Her skin looks like porcelain and she wears very little make-up. Raised in the Netherlands by Turkish parents, she was crowned last December, at age 20, in a very controversial pageant, one that was hurriedly moved from Nigeria to Britain. Akin turned 21 on December 8, the day after becoming Miss World.
The 21 year-old model, took the crown and 100,000 pounds, ahead of Miss Colombia, Natalia Peralta, (in second) and Miss Peru, Marina Mora Montero, (in third place.) She told the world then that she was honoured and excited to have won and “wanted to represent the women of the world in a good way”.
But after months of non-stop travelling however, with stops in New York, China (where this year’s competition will be held), New Zealand, London, Ireland, and now Jamaica, Azra admits to All Woman that she has not yet “had an opportunity to do anything for women.”
Her triumphant return home to Turkey has to date been just one of the many highlights of her reign.
“I met the prime minister as well as the president,” she said.
Naturally in her adopted country, the Netherlands, there was, and still is, much jubilation.
Her focus has been on raising money for the Children’s Club ú a charitable organisation.
A model, signed to Elite, Akin smiles broadly as she attempts to respond to the question of why she thinks she won the title of Miss World.
” I think it’s because I was myself. I’m a caring, warm individual, but to tell the truth, there were so many other beautiful girls in the competition that I’m still not too sure how the judges chose me.”
This is Miss World’s first visit to the Caribbean and she’s anxious to try out some of the island’s gastronomical delights. Like millions around the world she has heard of Bob Marley and wants not just to enjoy the white beaches but to experience “the culture and warmth of the Jamaican people”.
“When my friend heard that I was coming she was so excited. She has visited Jamaica twice and told me just how lovely the place is. My visit is a short one. (I leave on Monday) but I’ll definitely be back, this time for a longer visit,” she tells All Woman.
Akin, a fitness buff, is rushing back to the United Kingdom to push her fundraising for children, this time through the ‘Games’ to be aired on Channel 4. In which ten celebrities (5 males, and 5 females) participate in sports: hurdles, swimming, running etc. Money is earned by the celebrities and it all goes to charity.
At the end of her reign, this bubbly beauty looks forward to continuing her modelling career and there might even be an opportunity to act.
In the meantime she shares with us her passion for dance.
“I started dancing at age four — I took ballet lessons. I enjoy modern dancing and also a little bit of belly-dancing. I’m not too sure however, what I’d do with it (dancing),” she says.
We leave Akin to relax and prepare to participate in Spartan’s 25th anniversary as the local franchise holders of the Miss World Competition. This event was founded in 1951 by British impresario, Eric Morley, who was seeking publicity for the Festival of Britain.
