Hawa sheriff, aspire model and contestant no.6 for Miss Sierra Leone United kingdom 2017

I’m Hawa sheriff, 20 years old and Mandingo by tribe. I was born in the northern part of Sierra Leone, kabala to be specific but raised in Freetown. I’m a London based aspiring model and contestant no.6 for Miss Sierra Leone United kingdom 2017. I did my first professional photoshoot with the face London in September 2016 and I have applied for various modelling agencies since.

Growing up, I was always this quiet and shy girl. The girl that lack self confidence to voice her opinion. The girl that was scared to ask questions or make new friends. All these changed when I travelled few years back to The United Kingdom. I later realised my self confidence level had grown far much better than I was back then.

I went to the Annie Walsh memorial Secondary school Freetown, Sierra Leone. I studied a level 3 extended diploma in medical sciences at city and Islington college London. I’m currently in a gap year working as a care assistant, however, I intend to study Adult Nursing at university next academic year.

I’m the third born from a family of six. I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. I lost my first love, my best friend and my dad few years ago. I was devastated, I thought I have lost everything in life but with the help of my lovely mum and the rest of my family I was able to pulled through it. My mum has been the best thing that ever happened to me. she is my inspiration and my motivator. i couldn’t have come this far if not for her. She taught to become an independent and self confidence woman, i am today. Family and God means everything to me and I valued them a lot.

My dream to become the next miss sierra Leone 2017 started since childhood. Growing up i have always dreamt to become the face of something but not just a beautiful face but a face that can bring positive difference to other people’s lives especially women. I believe in women and child empowerment, education and protection. As we all know women and children are the most vulnerable creation of God. Therefore they need us to stand up for them when they need us most. i want to be that person that have their interest in heart. I want to advocate for women empowerment and education so that they can be able to voice their opinions when needed and obtain a better future.

I will encourage women to go for antenatal and postnatal care, so as to prevent complications of pregnancies such as still birth and miscarriages. Me and my team will also encourage to eat well in order to deliver a healthy baby. My team and I will also work hard to encourage young girls and women to practise safe sex and to use contraceptive in order to prevent unwanted babies. I will explain to them that, safe not only prevent them from pregnancies but also from sexually transmitted diseases.

Myself and my team will join other activist to advocated against female violence and abuse. Women are not slaves and should not be taken advantage of because they are vulnerable. We have the right to decide what should happen to our body and how it should happen. We should not be forced into doing what we don’t want to do. As a woman we shall work with other government officials to as to enforce harsh laws against female violence and abuse.

I am a woman and I believe in every other woman. I stand to protect the welfare of all women and i would like each and everyone of you to support me. With all of you we can beat the struggles that women go through. If you believe in change please come together and support me. I am Hawa Sheriff with your support I can make it.