The recently concluded Face of Maritime International (FOMI) 2025 competition has revealed how a blend of influence, personality, and public engagement propelled Miss Esther Uchenna, representing the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), to emerge as the overall winner.
According to the final scoresheet released by the organisers, Esther amassed 741 points out of 1000, securing top marks in Influence (200/250) and Personality (163/200) – two categories that proved decisive in shaping the rankings.
Her steady performance in Popularity (145/250) and Maritime Knowledge (116/150) also underscored her balanced profile as a charismatic, knowledgeable, and relatable ambassador for the maritime industry.
Trailing behind her was Miss Francisca Godfrey of NAGAFF, who finished second with 563 points. Despite topping the Influence category with 220 marks, her modest scores in Popularity (48) and Maritime Knowledge (71) cost her the crown. In third place, Miss Olayinka Akande of NIWA recorded 560 points, displaying strong consistency across all five criteria but fell short in Personality (88).
Other finalists included; Miss Precious Ajayi (LTT) in fourth place with 467 points, Miss Chioma Okwumezie (Nigeria Customs Service) in fifth with 453 points, Miss Precious Obadare (ANLCA) in sixth with 341 points, and Miss Divine Kingsley (Tin Can Island Port Complex) at the bottom with 242 points.
An analysis of the score distribution showed that Influence and Popularity were the most impactful categories, jointly accounting for half of the total obtainable marks.
Contestants with higher visibility and social engagement naturally dominated the leaderboard, highlighting how modern pageantry now rewards not just beauty or intellect, but also public connection and institutional support.
Interestingly, the Maritime Knowledge category (150 marks) revealed encouraging results, with most participants scoring above 70, reflecting a fair understanding of the maritime industry’s dynamics. The Personality and Modeling Skills categories were also relatively strong, showing that contestants possessed confidence, presentation ability, and poise – key attributes for representing the industry’s image.
Notably, no discretionary or bonus marks were awarded, confirming the organisers’ transparency and adherence to merit-based scoring.
Beyond the numbers, the FOMI 2025 contest underscored a broader lesson for aspiring participants: success depends on combining beauty, intellect, and influence.
As the data showed, contestants who failed to engage the public lost critical ground, regardless of their personal strengths.
