The second edition of Miss Afro Diaspora Finland was held at Valkoinen Sali in Helsinki on Saturday 3rd December 2022. USA-born Zakiya Joval was declared the winner by the jury that comprises beauty queens and stylists.
The winner with partner, mother, and grandmother. Photo credit : joonatanrim
Zakiya hails from a mixed background which tallies with what the beauty pageant promotes. Her mother is half Kenyan and half Finnish. The father, on the other hand, is from Suriname in the Caribbean.
Winning this crown wasn’t easy, and there has always been some drama behind closed doors. But we all had a reason and a cause to enter this competition. None of us did it only for ourselves, we all had another motive to enter – to do something good for our community, Joval says.
Zakiya has this to say, I am happy that after the first competition, this competition was opened to the entire Afro diaspora. I have a really multicultural background, and my skin color has always defined a lot in my life – but it has never defined me.
From left; first runner-upZezibelle Foncha, Zakiya Joval (winner) Britney Ekhator, second runner up. Photo Credit: Jukka Luoma
The beauty pageant name was changed from Face of African Queen to Miss Afro Diaspora Finland to allow inclusiveness which means any black or mixed-race lady from any part of the world can compete. The first finals was held on 21, November, 2020. The pageant did not hold in 2021 because of covid.
The finalists. Photo Credit: Jukka Luoma
The first runner up is Zezibelle Foncha from Cameroon and Britney Ekhator is the second runner up. The winner will embark on an all-expense paid trip to Paris, France during the summer, be on the front cover of Diaspora Glitz Magazine. Zakiya will be officially interviewed by the Diaspora Glitz Magazine publisher.
