Miss Freetown contestant and former housemate of the Big Sister reality show, Sheknatu Bangura, has joined health and community stakeholders in a walk to raise mental health awareness, using her pageant platform to promote compassion, advocacy and community action.
The walk, held on Saturday, 10 October 2026, to mark World Mental Health Day, started at Youyi Building in Brookfields and ended at Family Kingdom. Bangura, who is representing the Central Area in the upcoming Miss Freetown Beauty Pageant, participated alongside representatives from the Ministry of
Health and Sanitation, government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, community leaders and members of the public.
Participants used the walk to highlight the importance of mental health and encourage citizens to take practical steps to support one another.
For Bangura, her participation reflects her belief that beauty should extend beyond physical appearance.
“Beauty should be paired with intelligence, compassion and action,” she said.
As a fifth-year medical student and Miss Freetown contestant, Bangura said her advocacy is driven by a commitment to service and meaningful community impact. She explained that her journey to Miss Freetown is not solely about winning a crown but also about using the platform to address issues affecting Freetonians, including mental health.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their communities.
The organisation also emphasises that mental health goes beyond the absence of mental disorders, describing it as an essential component of overall health and noting that “there is no health without mental health.”
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” highlights the importance of listening to people with lived experience of mental health conditions and ensuring their voices help shape support services and policies.
According to Bangura, one of the key messages she intends to promote on the Miss Freetown stage is the need to encourage open conversations about mental health. She highlighted three important dimensions of mental well-being: emotional, psychological and social well-being.
Emotional well-being involves the ability to manage, process and express feelings such as joy, sadness, stress and anger. Psychological well-being relates to cognitive functioning, self-esteem, resilience and the ability to perceive and solve problems, while social well-being involves building healthy relationships, connecting with others and developing a sense of belonging within the community.
She said these dimensions demonstrate how mental health affects various aspects of daily life, including personal relationships, education, work, family life and community participation.
The Central Area contestant called on Freetonians to check on their loved ones, listen without judgment and speak openly about mental health.
“Most importantly, let us remind one another that it is okay to ask for help,” she said. “Everyone’s mind and story matters.”
Bangura added that communities can help reduce stigma by creating safe spaces for honest conversations and encouraging people to seek support early.
As the Miss Freetown Beauty Pageant approaches, she said her campaign will continue to focus on advocacy, education and service, demonstrating how a crown can serve as a powerful platform for positive change.
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