I'm just being myself. I'm a simple kind of girl ... I'm comfortable the way I am. I just want to give the world me, and don't want to look like somebody else. That has been one of my advantages.
People knew nothing else about my country (other than the war). That's affected us. When you say Sierra Leone, people think: "There is war in that country." But that is long gone.
What was life like growing up?
I came from a big family and grew up with my mom. She did a lot to make me a strong person. She taught me how to appreciate what I have, and to go for what I want.
What should people visiting Sierra Leone expect?
When you come to Sierra Leone, firstly, expect a lot of smiles at the airport. A lot of the time, the places you go, (there is) a connection between people. And then (there's) our food, which is delicious -- it's something you wouldn't want to miss.
Aside from beauty pageants, what are you passionate about?
I support women. I do a lot of charity work that supports kids affected by Ebola. During the outbreak, I was out there helping, giving out stuff for people to take care of themselves. I also help school children pay their school fees. I knew how I came up -- it was very hard for me. If I'm having all these opportunities, I need to give back.
Did the Ebola outbreak affect you personally?
None of my family members were affected, (though) it was hard seeing it affect my country. A lot of people lost their jobs, suffered and died from it -- it was devastating.
What would being crowned Miss Universe 2017 mean to you?
It would be the greatest honor of my life. As I said, it's not just publicity for myself, but for my country as a whole. I want to welcome everyone to come to Sierra Leone. Everyone will love it.
