Tadias Magazine
News Update
Published: Sunday, September 22nd, 2013
New York (TADIAS) – Mhadere Tigabe has been crowned Miss Universe Ethiopia 2013 after winning the final contest held on Friday evening at the Radisson Blu hotel in Addis Ababa.
Mhadere will represent Ethiopia at the upcoming Miss Universe competition in Moscow, Russia on November 9th, 2013.
Below are photos courtesy of the organizers.
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Monday, September 2nd, 2013
New York (TADIAS) – The countdown to announce the next Miss Universe Ethiopia is underway in Addis Ababa, where the final contest is scheduled to be held on September 20th at the Radisson Blu hotel. The finalist will represent Ethiopia at the global Miss Universe competition in Moscow, Russia on November 9th, 2013.
Organizers of the event in Ethiopia selected 15 participants who qualified at the initial audition process and runway exhibition held at Panorama Hotel last month. “We’ve tried hard to scout the best candidates through massive media campaigns that included advertisements in cinemas, outdoor screens, newspapers, radio, and social media,” Henok Yifru, head coordinator of Miss Universe Ethiopia, told Tadias Magazine. “We are proud to run the Miss Universe Ethiopia program for the second year in a row.”
Last year 22-year-old Helen Getachew represented the country at the 2012 Miss Universe competition held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, becoming the first beauty queen from Ethiopia to grace the stage in more than five years.
Henok said they are eyeing some improvements for the final ceremony in 2013 compared to the previous year that he says will include a fashion show and live entertainment, with judges and guests hailing from the diplomatic community, press, and fashion industries. “An extension might be a possibility due to the overwhelming request we have received,” Henok added, referring to preliminary tryouts staged at Panorama Hotel in August.
“Just like last year we will be hosting the final event on September 20th at the Radison Blu hotel with some changes in the formation,” Henok said, “which includes making the event semi-open for the public by allowing ticketed seating, coverage of the show internationally by using our partnership with DSTV, and also working with different artists to make the event more exciting.” He added: “We would like our audience to know that it is our highest priority to bring qualified local and international judges to help us select the finalist for the Ethiopian Miss Universe. This must be done in order to leverage all of our efforts to provide more opportunities for our contestants who work hard to participate in our program.”
Henok emphasized that the winner will also be tasked to advocate on behalf of topics that are of universal concerns in the region. Organizers hope that this year’s crown holder will focus on the problem of human trafficking. “Every year the winner of the Miss Universe Ethiopia pageant will be taking on a social cause to give back to the community and empower social change,” he noted. “Last year Miss Universe Ethiopia 2012, Helen Getachew, took on the challenge of promoting awareness about children and education, but we are still not happy with our efforts and we believe it’s an important area of improvement for us.” In 2013 “the winner of Miss Universe Ethiopia will be working in close partnership with NGOs to promote awareness on human trafficking and act as an ambassador,” Henok stated.
So far only four African countries have won the international title — South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola. The current Miss Universe is Miss USA Olivia Culpo, a 20-year-old beauty queen from Rhode Island and the first American to claim the coveted title since 1997. Olivia was crowned Miss Universe 2012 by Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola who passed on the crown last December in front of nearly one billion TV viewers from 190 countries worldwide.
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You can follow updates at Miss Universe Ethiopia’s Facebook page. Below is slideshow of images from last year’s coverage and photos of Miss Universe Ethiopia 2012 & Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola.
Tadias Magazine
By Tigist Selam
Updated: Friday, December 21, 2012
New York (TADIAS) – The new Miss Universe is Miss USA Olivia Culpo, a 20-year-old beauty queen from Rhode Island and the first American to claim the coveted title since 1997. Olivia was crowned Miss Universe 2012 by Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola at the annual international event held on Wednesday night in Las Vegas and televised around the world. Over the next year Olivia will hit the road on behalf of her cause alliances, namely HIV/AIDS prevention as mentioned on her official pageant profile.
Women from over 80 countries participated in the 61st Miss Universe contest. After years of absence from the global competition, Ethiopia was also back on the stage this year represented by 22-year-old Helen Getachew.
A ‘welcome to NYC party’ is being organized for Helen this weekend when she arrives here for post-pageant activities. Organizers say the event at Lalibela Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday, December 22 will be a relaxing dinner affair that includes champagne, music and, of course, a chance to meet, chat and be photographed with Miss Universe Ethiopia 2012!
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If You Go:
Date: Sat Dec 22nd
Time: 7pm
Lalibela Restaurant
37 East 29th St, Ny,Ny
Between Park & Madison Aves
$45 per person – Call to RSVP
Tel: 646.454.0913 or 646.454.1437
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Related:
Meet Helen Getachew: Miss Universe 2012 Contestant From Ethiopia (TADIAS)
Photos: Miss Universe Ethiopia Fundraiser at Bati Restaurant in Brooklyn
Spark Communications Acquires License for Miss Universe Ethiopia
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Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook.
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: Tuesday, September 11, 2012
New York (TADIAS) – Since the beginning of the international beauty pageant Miss Universe in 1952, only four African countries have won the title: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola.
Henok Yifru – one of the founders of Spark Communications Worldwide, a New York City based marketing and branding company that recently acquired the exclusive license for Miss Universe Ethiopia, is hopeful that Ethiopia may be added to the roster of African winners in the next few years.
“We are looking for serious and career-driven applicants only,” Henok said in a recent interview with TADIAS, pointing out that with over 1 billion television viewers, the competition is one of the most watched annual media events worldwide.
The Miss Universe Organization is currently owned by Donald Trump in partnership with NBC Universal.
“Miss Universe Ethiopia will have the opportunity to represent the nation and act as an ambassador in this context,” Henok said. “The judges are capable of providing opportunities beyond Miss Universe itself. He added: “It’s a special position that has its responsibilities. It provides an opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, the ability to take on cause-based projects, and the chance to promote Ethiopia globally.”
And what are the qualifications to participate?
“Contestants must be female, citizens of Ethiopia, and must have resided in Ethiopia as their permanent and primary residence for a period of at least six months immediately prior to Friday, October 12, 2012,” Henok answered, referring to the scheduled date for Miss Universe Ethiopia final at Radisson Blu Hotel in Addis Ababa. “They must be at least 18 years of age and under 27 as of February 01, 2012,” he said.
Spark Communications Worldwide, the official licensee, will manage the production and preliminary qualification process for the contest in Ethiopia.
“What makes this Miss Universe Ethiopia special is that there will be agents as judges from esteemed New York City modeling agencies and beauty relevant companies who will be traveling to Addis Ababa with our team to conduct the casting and selection of the talent,” Henok said.
Thus far, confirmed participating agencies include, Wilhelmina Models, Elite Model Management and Fusion Model Management.
Henok said in addition to these modeling agencies, L’Oreal, Revlon and MAC cosmetics casting agents have been approached to sit on the judging board. “This gives the contestants a double opportunity to succeed not just in Miss Universe but in the modeling world as well,” he argued. “Basically, we will do everything in our power to give the winner as much exposure and opportunity.”
Regarding Spark Communications Henok said, the company works on several projects in various industries, including media, entertainment, hospitality, and travel. “One initiative is the ‘Gateway Africa’ Project which is set up to promote destinations in Africa and build a more positive image for the continent,” he said. “We’re also close partners with Miss Universe Botswana.”
Henok added: “Our long term goal is to make the Miss Universe Ethiopia initiative a gateway to global opportunities for Ethiopia’s artistic and business talent, while simultaneously promoting Ethiopia as a tourist destination.”
According to organizers, the international final event for this year’s Miss Universe will be held either in the United States or the Dominican Republic on December 11, 2012. “Either way, it’s going to be exciting,” Henok said.
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Click here to learn more about the pageant at Miss Universe Ethiopia.
Related Photos:
Alef Tadesse (left) and Henok Yifru represented Spark Communications Worldwide at the NBC Universal Miss Universe office in NYC, July 2012. (Courtesy photo)
Henok Yifru poses with Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola at the NBC Universal Miss Universe office in NYC, July 2012. (Courtesy photo)
The reigning Miss Universe Leila Lopes of Angola. (Courtesy photo)
Leila Lopes at the Rio Conventions of the UNCCD – United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. (Courtesy photo)
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