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Dr Sama Siama Banya, best known as a veteran politician and former columnist, has encouraged Miss Sierra Leone contestant Janet Mumgbay Zizer not to give up on her dream of becoming a beauty queen.
Over the weekend, Janet, who represented Kailahun District in the Miss Sierra Leone 2025 pageant, visited Dr Banya’s home in Siama to join in celebrating his 95th birthday. She was among hundreds of residents from Siama, Pendembu, and nearby areas who came to honour the occasion.
During a one-on-one moment, Dr Banya encouraged Janet to stay focused on her goal. He told her, “Never give up. If you try and you don’t succeed, try and try again.”
Although Janet did not win the national crown, which went to Lachaeveh Davies representing the Western Area Rural, she is the current Beauty Queen of Kailahun District, her maternal home. Dr Banya thanked her for returning to Pendembu and Siama after the pageant to show appreciation.
Janet is a broadcast journalist, model, youth advocate, and entrepreneur. She is also the founder of Empower Her +, formerly known as Jansuccess Sierra Leone Network. Her participation in the pageant was supported by various individuals and organisations, including the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, according to reports.
Her visit to Siama was part of a thank-you tour across Kailahun District. It began on Friday in Pendembu, where she met with town elders, including Councilor Senessie Kutubu, who congratulated her for representing the district. She also donated sanitary pads to women at the Barray and to 69 pupils and female teachers of the Roman Catholic Girls Primary School.
Later that day, she engaged with locals at the weekly Luma trade fair. On Saturday, she continued the tour in Kailahun Town and appeared live on Voice of Bambara 98.8 FM. The tour ended on Sunday with a prayer and thanksgiving service at the Roman Catholic Church in Siama.
