Chapter 1:The Gilttering facade
The afternoon sun shone through the curtains in Rita Mensah's bedroom, filling the room with soft light. She lay on her bed, scrolling through Instagram, lost in the world of social media.
Her feed was full of familiar posts—friends showing off their kaba and slioutfits, influencers on vacations in Dubai, and Afrobeat stars sharing music teasers.
Then, something caught her eye.
A bright, colorful post stood out from the rest.
Sunshine Pageantry 2025: A Chance to Shine.
The caption below it read:
Win big! A crown, cash, sponsorship deals, and a chance to represent Ghana on the international stage. Sign up now!
Rita sat up, her heart beating faster. She clicked on the page. The photos were stunning—elegant young women in sparkling gowns, golden crowns on their heads, their smiles full of confidence.
This could be me.
Her fingers hovered over the flyer Apply Now button.
For years, she had dreamed of standing on a big stage, lights shining, cameras flashing. She had always admired beauty queens like Hamamat Montia and Abena Akuaba. If they could do it, why couldn't she?
She hesitated for a moment.
Not everything that glitters is gold.
Her mother always said that. But what if this was real? What if this was her big break?
Taking a deep breath, she tapped the button.