| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Born | Miriam Odemba Tanzania |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Major competition(s) |
Miss Earth Tanzania Miss Earth 2008 (1st runner-up) Miss Temeke Miss East Africa (second runner up) |
Miriam Odemba (from Arusha, Tanzania) is Miss Tanzania Earth 2008 and Miss Earth Air 2008 (first runner up). Odemba is a Tanzanian model. She is one of the best models from her country where she started her modeling career at an early age and emerged into the limelight in 1997 when she won the Miss Temeke title. The following year she took part in the Miss East Africa beauty pageant and finished second.[1]
At 13, her life was tough and her parents had to move to their uncle. She always wondered what life was all about then. As she grew older, she perceived God’s message of love and started appreciating everything around her especially the nature, God’s greatest gift to not only to her but to all of us.[2]
In the final competition of the eighth edition of the international beauty pageant Miss Earth, Odemba was announced as one of sixteen semi-finalists who would move forward to compete for the title.[3] She achieved one of the eight highest scores in the swimsuit competition for her stage chops, which advanced her as one of the top eight finalists to participate in the evening gown competition. She then pulled away for the lead as she articulated in her video interview about environmental concerns as a key issue in her country, in which she advanced to the top four.[4][5][6]
In the last round, the court of four were asked one question, “What would you tell US president-elect Barack Obama about the state of the global environment if ever you were to meet him?” She placed the second highest score in the interview round and at the conclusion of the competition, she was crowned Miss Earth Air.[7][8][9][10]
Odemba also won Miss Aficionado, a minor award.[11] Other winners include: Miss Philippines Karla Paula Henry as Miss Earth 2008, Miss Mexico Abigail Elizalde as Miss Earth-Water (second runner-up), Miss Brazil Tatiane Alves as Miss Earth-Fire (third runner-up). Miriam returned home on November 24 to her country, Tanzania. Maria, her national director and whose company named Odemba as the country’s envoy to the Miss Earth global pageant, welcomed her and prepared a tumultuous homecoming with a parade and press conference for winning Miss Earth Air 2008.[12][13] The Miss Earth pageant was held on November 9, 2008 at the Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines.[14][15] Eighty-five delegates arrived from October 19, 2008 in the Philippines. The pageant was broadcasted live via ABS-CBN in the Philippines and to many countries worldwide via Star World, The Filipino Channel and other partner networks.[16]
Odemba's closest friend among the Miss Earth 2008 top four runner-up winners—named after the four elements—is her pageant roommate Karla Henry, Miss Earth 2008 from the Philippines. They plan to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in the near future.[10]
| Preceded by Angel Delight Kileo |
Miss Tanzania Earth 2008 |
Succeeded by Evelyne Almasi |
| Preceded by Pooja Chitgopekar |
Miss Earth-Air 2008 |
Succeeded by Sandra Seifert |
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