Meet Yabba Mansaray, a fashion model and artist, who catapulted into the limelight through the Miss Sierra Leone beauty pageant of 2018 and Big Sister Season 2 in 2020. Yabba started modelling when she was in JSS2 at Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) after one of her teachers encouraged her to try out for a beauty pageant. As if fate had decided, Yabba won the pageant, and the journey began.
Becoming a fashion model was difficult at first, Yabba says. She faced so much discrimination and hatred from her community, as many perceived modeling as immoral. Yabba grew up with few to no female friends because many parents prohibited their children from associating with her.
As part of giving back to the community and creating platforms for young people top grow, Yabba founded a football team FC Yabba Yabz that has made it to the finals of a local league. Yabba will also host her own beauty pageant dubbed Miss East vs West Beauty Pageant on December 10 at Family Kingdom. The young woman to emerge queen of the pageant will drive away in a brand new Toyota Camry.
Yabba urges parents to fully support their children’s careers and their dreams. To the young ladies, Yabba advises them to stay true to who they are and not copy others.
“Climb your ladder step by step don’t jump the ladder, believe that your dream will come true. Everyone has had their own struggles and has their own background.”
Yabba
The 10th of December is only a few days away. Let’s support Yabba and all the young women taking part in the Miss East vs West beauty pageant at Family Kingdom. VAfrica. One People. Many Cultures.
