Regina Askia-Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Regina Askia-Williams
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| Born |
Imaobong Regina Askia Usoro
16 December 1967 Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
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| Other names | Regina Askia |
| Alma mater | University of Calabar University of Lagos Wagner College |
| Occupation | Nurse practitioner, actress, former model |
| Title | Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1989, Miss Unilag 88 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Hazel |
| Major competition(s) |
Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1989 |
Regina Askia-Williams (born on December 16, 1967) is a Nigerian-American actress, model, and healthcare worker. She first became famous as a beauty queen in Nigeria. Today, she works as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in New York City. An FNP is a special kind of nurse with advanced training to care for people of all ages.
Besides her work in healthcare, she is also a public speaker. She talks about important issues like improving children's health, education, and economic growth in Africa.
Contents
Career Journey
Beauty Pageants
In 1988, while studying at the University of Lagos, Regina was crowned Miss Unilag. In the same year, she competed in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) contest and came in second place.
The next year, in 1989, she became the new MBGN winner after the original winner stepped down. In 1990, Regina represented Nigeria at the Miss Charm International pageant in Russia, where she won second place. She was also the first Nigerian to compete in the Miss International pageant in Japan. There, she won an award for the most outstanding traditional costume.
Modeling
After winning beauty pageants, Regina became a well-known model in Nigeria. She appeared in many ads on TV and in magazines for brands like Visine® and Kessingsheen Hair Care.
She also walked in many runway shows. In 2007, she modeled for a face-cleansing product line with her daughter, Stephanie Hornecker, who is also a model. A year earlier, in 2006, she hosted a charity fashion show in New York. The show featured clothes from top African designers and her own fashion line, Regine Fashions.
Acting in Nollywood
Regina's acting career began in 1993. She starred in the Nigerian TV show Fortunes as a character named "Tokunbo Johnson." Her performance was a big hit and made her a famous actress in Nigeria.
This led to roles in many movies from "Nollywood" (the name for Nigeria's film industry). Her movies were very popular in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana. After taking a break from acting, she returned to star in a film called Web. For her amazing acting, she won the "Best Actress in Nigeria" award from Afro Hollywood London in 2000.
Personal Life and Education
Regina Askia-Williams lives in the United States with her family. She has a degree in Biology from the University of Lagos in Nigeria. Later, she studied in the U.S. and earned her nursing degree from Wagner College.
On September 11, 2001, she was working in the World Trade Center in New York City when the buildings were attacked. She was able to escape safely.
Regina is married to Rudolph 'Rudy' Williams. They have two children, a daughter named Teesa Olympia and a son named Rudolph Junior. Regina also has another daughter, Stephanie, from an earlier relationship.
Helping Others
Regina is passionate about supporting healthcare projects in Nigeria. In 2005, she organized a fashion show in New York City. The event helped raise awareness about the need for better resources for children in Nigeria.
In 2007, she was honored with an award from the Celebrating African Motherhood Organization (CAM) in Washington, D.C. for her work.
She continues to connect people of African descent living abroad with communities in Africa. She does this through fashion shows and by helping with medical missions to the continent. She also co-hosts an online show called African Health Dialogues, which discusses health topics related to Africa.
Selected Filmography
As an actress, Regina has starred in many films. Here are a few of them:
- Slave Warrior: The Beginning (2007)
- Veno (2004)
- Festival of Fire (2002)
- Vuga (2000)
- The President's Daughter (2000)
- Full Moon (1998)
- Rituals (1997)
