Miss Universe 2011

 Leila Lopes (Angola) being crowned Miss Universe 2011

Leila Lopes (Angola)

 

Sophie Gemal (Nigeria)

After 3 weeks of intensive competition between 89 countries, Leila Lopes (Miss Angola) has been crowned Miss Universe 2011. The event which was held in Brazil, Sao Paul listed Olesya Stefanko from Ukraine as 1^st runner up, Priscilla Machado from Brazil as 2^nd runner up, Shamcey Supsup from Philippines as 3^rd runner up, Luo Zilin (China) as 4^th runner up.

Twenty-five years old Leila Lopes emerged Angola’s first Miss Universe, after beating out 88 other  contestants during the 60th anniversary of the world’s biggest beauty pageant. Taking over from 2010 Miss Universe, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico, Lopes says she hopes to use her position to serve her country. “…as Miss Angola I’ve already done a lot to help my people. I’ve worked with various social causes. I work with poor kids, I work in the fight against HIV. I work to protect the elderly and I have to do everything that my country needs,” she said. “I think now as Miss Universe I will be able to do much more.”

Lopes was born in Angola on February 26, 1986. She is studying Business Management in Great Britain. In 2010, she contested for Miss Angola UK and was crowned winner. This afforded her the opportunity to contest for the position of Miss Universe, where she emerged winner yesterday, September 12, 2011 at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil.

Lopes’ profile at a glance:

Full name: Leila Luliana da Costa Vieira Lopes
Age: 25 (February 26, 1986)
Height: 5 ft 10 1/2
Residence: United Kingdom
Hair color: Black
Titles: Miss Angola UK 2011
Miss Angola 2011
(Miss Photogenic)
Miss Universe 2011
BEAUTY PAGEANT RESULT AT A GLANCE
Miss Universe 2011
Angola, Leila Lopes
First Runner up:
Ukraine, Olesia Stefanko
Second Runner up:
Brazil, Priscila Machado
Third Runner up:
Philippines, Shamcey Supsup
Fourth Runner up:
China, Luo Zilin

Sophie Gemal represented Nigeria in the contest.

South Africa leads in All Africa Games

South Africa has taken unassailable lead in the ongoing All Africa Games here in Maputo, Mozambique.

They have already garnered 20 gold medals while Nigeria is in a distant position of 8th with just one gold, an indication of the deplorable state of sports in the country.

House Committee member of Sports in the Federal House of Representatives, Honourable Godfrey Gaya who is watching the games is already fuming over Nigeria’s performance so far.has expressed his displeasure over the performance.

Gaya frowned yesterday after he took a look at the medals table and discovered Team Nigeria perched on the 8th position with 1 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals against South Africa’s 20 gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze medals.

“I’m not impressed with their performance but under the prevailing circumstance we find ourselves, there is nothing we can do.

It is too early, though, but we hope they rise up to the top”, the soft-spoken Gaya said moments after Sports Minister Alhaji Suleiman briefed the Press on the performance of Team Nigeria so far at the Games.

The Honourable member acknowledged difficulties that litter in Maputo but lashed on officials who have continued to over-use athletes who have over stayed their welcome in sports.

“It baffles me to see that some Nigerian athletes have attended four to five All Africa Games and are still participating in the Games here. Its even more ridiculous when you know that the Games hold once every four years.

You can see why they are not doing well compared to the young ones being paraded by other countries. There is no other way to develop our sports other than embracing grassroots and discovering fresh talents”, Gaya said.

Ini Edo is N54M richer

Ini Edo, one of Nollywood’s most bankable actresses, became N40 million richer on Friday, September 2, 2011 as she signed an endorsement deal with Noble Hair!

She is also one of the Globacom ambassadors, the telecoms company owned by the Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jnr, and only three weeks back, pocketed N14.5 million when her contract was renewed for another two years (though the N14.5 million is an annual payment).

WHY DRINK WINE

By Frank S U Jacobs,PhD, FICCON, MON

It is necessary to answer this question because of the need to show the distinction between wine on the one hand and other beverages on the other. These distinctions become apparent as one considers the peculiar characteristics and the unique uses of wine in relation to other beverages

There are several reasons why one would choose to drink wine over all other drinks.  These reasons are stated here in a nutshell.  Wine is the naturally fermented fruit juice that preserves itself and the wholesome beverage that accompanies the meal instead of water.  Unlike water, soft drink, coffee, tea or beer, it serves a few other purposes.  It is the only beverage that brings to a balance the four taste elements to which the human palate is sensitive   sweetness, bitterness, acidity and saltiness.  In fact, wine that lacks this balance is incomplete in quality characteristics and may be considered a bad wine.   It supplies aroma, acidity, smoothness and flavors to foods that lack those qualities.  Indeed wine is believed by gourmets to be an inseparable companion of fine foods.  Wine also has the ability to improve appetite and promote digestion.

Wine is a natural product, unlike beer and distilled products, which are manufactured.  Wine does not just contain alcohol but also contains fruit sugars valuable in the diet and is praised as the only common alcoholic beverage containing significant quantities of B vitamins, and all the thirteen mineral elements recognized as essential to maintain human life.  These non-alcoholic components not found in spirits or “hot drinks,” make wine behave differently in the human body.  Although the mechanism is not fully understood by medical experts, it is known that the organic acids, ester, and nitrogen bearing compounds in wine slow down the rate of absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.  Thus the blood alcohol level for a wine drinker reaches a plateau instead of a peak thereby relaxing the jumpy nerves and giving a pleasant feeling for a long time.  Alcohol from other sources is absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly resulting in more sudden and pronounced effects.

In a survey conducted some years ago in Nigeria among wine drinkers, it was found that most people who drink a glass of wine at dinner or before bedtime reported that they slept well at night, implying that wine is a mild tranquilizer and therefore a good substitute for drugs used to induce sleep. In cultures accustomed to wine drinking, wine has been used for thousands of years as a tranquilizer, a tonic and a soporific.

Wine is a sacred, symbolic and romantic beverage.  Most Christian churches in the celebration of the holy mass choose it.  Wine is used in the traditional ‘washing’ of valued new possessions like cars, houses, etc.  Also, it comes handy to the toast of chief celebrants at occasions.  For centuries, wine has been praised in literature and music and associated with feasting, philosophy, art, music and love.  Lately in Nigeria, wine has adorned the tables at social functions especially when organized for or by important personalities.  On occasions where wine is in short supply, the ‘high table’ is served wine while other guests are served other drinks like beer, malt or soft drinks underscoring the importance of wine in Nigerian social life.

Although it is known that wine has been the joy of mankind for centuries, yet the adage that too much of anything is bad applies.  The effect of wine on one is determined by the quantity consumed, the circumstances and individual body chemistry at the time it is consumed.  A suggestion therefore is to know your tolerance level for alcohol, determine the alcoholic content of the wine you want to drink and limit your drinking to the quantity you can handle.

www.jacobswines.com

Congratulations Ibinabo Fiberesima

Ibinabo Fiberesima has been nominated in the National Gospel awards for Best Cross Over Artist. The multi-talented damsel needs your votes. Please vote for me. Spread the good news. This is my first single, and I have been nominated.

What is it with South Africans and Nudity?

I read it is the Zulu culture, but looking at it morally, how do you expect the male folks to deal with this public show of nudity. I will have to research to know the percentage of teanage pregnancy in South Africa because I personally believe it will be on the high side. Please someone in South Africa tell me how you guys deal with this.