Regina Askia-Williams Explained

Regina Askia-Williams
Alias:Regina Askia
Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1989, Miss Unilag 88
Nationalcompetition:Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1989
Birth Name:Imaobong Regina Askia Usoro
Birth Date:1967 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Occupation:Nurse practitioner, actress, former model
Alma Mater:University of Calabar
University of Lagos
Wagner College
Eye Colour:Hazel
Hair Colour:Brown

Regina Askia-Williams (born Imaobong Regina of Askia Usoro on December 16, 1967) is a Nigerian-born, American-based actress, model, and former beauty Queen of the University of Lagos titleholder. She received her certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and practices in New York City. She writes and speaks publicly advocating for African outreach in children's health, education, and economic development.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Career

Beauty pageants

In 1988, Askia-Williams, a former medical student who had transferred from the University of Calabar to the University of Lagos, was crowned Miss Unilag. That same year, she placed second in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) contest. In 1989, she assumed the title of MBGN when winner Bianca Onoh resigned. In 1990, Askia-Williams represented Nigeria at Miss Charm International held in Leningrad, Russia, and came second. She was the first Nigerian to compete at the Miss International pageant in Japan, where she was awarded most outstanding traditional costume.

Modeling

After gaining public recognition in Nigeria as a beauty pageant winner, a modeling career opened up for Askia-Williams. She appeared in several Nigerian print and television commercials, including international accounts Visine®. Chicken George fast food, Kessingsheen Hair Care, and boutique chain Collectibles. She also worked on several runway shows, and in 2007, she modeled for the 2000-N-Six face cleansing range alongside her daughter, model Stephanie Hornecker.[5] In 2006, Askia-Williams hosted a charity fashion show at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York, which displayed the creations of top African designers and her own label Regine Fashions.[6]

Acting

Askia-Williams's acting break came in 1993, when she played gold-digger "Tokunbo Johnson" in the Nigerian soap Fortunes (later Mega Fortunes) on NTA Network, a role which earned her critical acclaim and recognition as a Nigerian actress. As a result, Askia-Williams starred in several "Nollywood" films during the 1990s and early 2000s, most of which were filmed to be released directly to video to a wide audience in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana,[7] and broadcast by Nigerian television networks ITV, StarTV, and the state broadcaster TVT.[8] [9] She took some time off[when}</sup> and returned to acting in a Nigerian film entitled ''Web''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Return of Regina Askia – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/01/30/the-return-of-regina-askia/ |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=www.thisdaylive.com}}</ref> She received the "Best Actress in Nigeria" award by Afro Hollywood London for her performance in 2000. == Personal life == Askia-Williams currently lives in America with her family. She is a graduate of the [[University of Lagos]], Nigeria with a degree in Biology. She earned her nursing degree at Wagner College in the United States.[10] [11] [12] and is now a family nurse practitioner practicing in New York City.[13] [14] [15] [16] Only three months after relocating to New York City with her family,[17] [18] she survived the attack on the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. She escaped from the building, where she worked at the time.

Askia-Williams is married to American Rudolph 'Rudy' Williams, nephew of Ron Everette and grandson of Fess Williams. The couple have two children together: daughter Teesa Olympia and son Rudolph Junior. Askia-Williams has another daughter from a previous relationship, model Stephanie Horneck.

Advocacy and medical outreach

Askia-Williams has maintained an active interest in supporting medical outreach in Nigeria. In 2005, she hosted a fashion show at the Nigerian Embassy in New York City to raise awareness of the plight of children's social amenities in Nigeria.

In 2007, Askia-Williams was among several African women given an award by the Celebrating African Motherhood Organization (CAM) at a gala event in Washington, D.C.[19]

Askia-Williams continues to promote greater collaboration between Africa and its diaspora with fashion shows as well as medical missions to Africa. She co-hosts an Internet broadcast discussion program, African Health Dialogues. The program covers such topics as the effectiveness of mobile medical clinics in Africa.[20] Her written articles have also appeared online, and in the "Saturday Clinic" series in the Nigerian newspaper This Day.[21]

Filmography

As an actress, Askia-Williams has starred in the following films:[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: African Health Dialogues. African Views. 29 May 2012.
  2. News: Segun-oduntan. Olumide. Regina Askia's life as a nurse. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927221203/http://nationalmirroronline.net/index.php/features/39086.html. usurped. 27 September 2013. National Mirror . Nigeria . 6 May 2012. 6 June 2013 .
  3. Web site: Why I abandoned acting to become a nurse -Ex-beauty queen Regina Askia-Williams. Segun . Ajiboye. 30 July 2016. The Nation. 25 February 2018.
  4. Web site: Okporu . Rachel . 2022-02-03 . 'Indeed she's ageless' Reactions as Actress Regina Askia shares 30 years throwback photo . 2022-03-15 . Kemi Filani News . en-GB.
  5. http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/sunstyle/2007/feb/24/sunstyle-24-02-2007-001.htm 2000-N-Six
  6. Web site: Regine 2006 fashion Show in New York City to benefit children in Africa . https://web.archive.org/web/20130320024323/http://www.africanevents.com/RegineFashionShow06.htm . 20 March 2013 . African Events . 25 February 2018 . dead . dmy-all .
  7. Book: Smith, Bonnie G.. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History, Volume 1. 2008. Oxford University Press. 9780195148909. 342. registration.
  8. Book: Mahir, Saul. Ralph A. Austen. amp. Viewing African Cinema in the Twenty-First Century: Art Films and the Nollywood Video Revolution. 2010. Ohio University Press. 9780821419311. 72.
  9. 2000 . Media Review . Diamond Publications, 2000 . 10 . 1–5 . 15, 28.
  10. News: She Did It! Regina Askia-Williams graduates from Nurse Practitioner Program at Wagner College . Bella Naija . May 29, 2018.
  11. News: Akande . Victor . 6 May 2012 . Regina Askia turns nurse . The Nation Online . 29 May 2012.
  12. Web site: African Health Dialogues: Mrs. Regina Askia-Williams, RN . 29 May 2012 . African Views.
  13. News: Nurses, spinal cord of health system – Group . The Vanguard . 25 February 2018.
  14. News: Regina Askia Urges Nigerian Nurses to Partner with Counterparts in Diaspora . Medical world Nigeria . 25 February 2018.
  15. http://www.nigeriamovies.net/starprofiles/askia Profile
  16. http://www.whispaz.com/regina_askia_133.html Interview with Omasan Buwa
  17. News: 14 August 2013 . Regina Askia – Still wearing the crown of yesteryears . Nigeria News .
  18. 1 October 2001 . The News . Independent Communications Network Ltd., 2001 . 17 . 32.
  19. Web site: Celebrating African Motherhood Organization (CAM) Gala . dead . https://archive.today/20120720141656/http://www.africanevents.com/CAM07.htm . 20 July 2012 . 29 May 2012 . African Events . dmy-all.
  20. Web site: Effectiveness of Mobile Clinics in Africa . 29 May 2012 . Africanviews.org.
  21. Web site: Regina Askia-Williams, RN . 29 May 2012 . African Views.
  22. Web site: Regina Askia. nigerian-movies.net. 29 May 2012.
  23. Web site: Regina Askia Actress . 2024-06-18 . IMDb . en-US.