A 26-year-old Gambian beauty queen, Majula J Joof, has been given a hero’s welcome on Banjul return after winning Miss-Freedown-of-the World in Europe competition, held in Kosovo.

She told reporters: “I feel happy representing The Gambia at an international level and came out victorious among fellow African ladies. 

“It is an honour for me to come back home and seeing my family first at the Banjul international airport.”

She added: “plane tickets are really expensive to buy. Some things I needed like my clothes, shoes, etc was also my problem and I needed all of these things to be able to compete with the other ladies from other countries.

“My people [at] Africell really helped me with some money to buy my ticket and if it wasn’t for them I would have lost the chance to make it to this life changing opportunity and coming out victorious, some people also supported me with clothes, shoes and make up products.

“I did my very best and am glad that the Gambia is recognised at international level because of my performance, I can stand here and say I represented the Gambia well.”

“The Gambian people really need to support each other more often especially when it comes to things like this [international contest],” she said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba