If you think Miss Nigerian Shippers Council, Roselyn Olanisimi is contesting in the Face Of Maritime International (FOMI) Season 9 just for the fun of it, you better think twice because the Ondo-born indigene mean business as far as this competition is concerned. She is passionate, hardworking and poised to win the highly coveted maritime Crown.
So far, she has started on the right footing, coming second in the Audition Photo Challenge and taking the lead in Week One Voting Results. However, in this exclusive Interview with PLATFORM REPORTERS, the Lagos trained and certified fashion designer acknowledges that the FOMI race is not just about starting well, but finishing well too, even as she admonishes other contestants that the contest is still wide open for anyone to win. Enjoy the excerpts:
PLATFORM REPORTERS: Let’s meet you?
ROSELYN: My name is Olanisimi Roselyn Kanyinsola. I am 25yrs old, a native of Ondo town in Ondo West local government area of Ondo State.
I was brought up realizing the importance of education, so I completed my secondary education and joined a Lagos State Empowerment scheme, where I became a certified Fashion Designer. I then pursued a National Diploma in Business Administration at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
My educational and personal experiences have been of help to my success as an entrepreneur in the fashion industry and other aspects of business and life in general. I enjoy singing and this has motivated me to be a chorister, I also love creating clothing designs, hair braiding and to inspire people.
PLATFORM REPORTERS: What motivated you to register in FOMI Season 9?
ROSELYN: I have always have passion for pageantry and modeling from my childhood but unfortunately some situations like being scammed in the process of registering with some fake organizations or participating in fake ones have been a major hindrance for me.
Luckily for me, I saw FACE OF MARITIME INTERNATIONAL SEASON 8 flyer on my modeling instructor WhatsApp status last year, I was so exited because I knew it must be from a genuine source simply because I trust him so well but due to some circumstances, I couldn’t partake then.
Recently, about couple of months ago, I saw the flyer, I could recognize it because it’s a program I have been longing for, I discussed it with my instructor and he told me to chat the number on the flyer, so I decided to try it out and ta-la, here I am.
PLATFORM REPORTERS: Which maritime organisation are you reprenting and why did you chose to rep that particular Organisation?
ROSELYN: I am representing NIGERIAN SHIPPER’S COUNCIL. I chose to represent Nigerian Shippers’ Council due to few research I’ve made pertaining the values the organization is adding to the growth of Nigeria’s maritime industry and the economy at large.
PLATFORM REPORTERS: How was the Online Audition for you. I mean the Audition Talks, the Casting and the rest. What was the experience like for you?
ROSELYN: Honestly, the audition talks remain WOW! The audition talk took place on Wednesday 31st of July by 10am on FOMI WhatsApp platform.
The maritime twins, Drs. TAIWO and KEHINDE OSHIGBO. They are maritime Consultants and Lecturers who spoke on “Introduction to Maritime”.
Our beautiful and intelligent mummy, in the person of MRS SARAH ROBERTS, a motivational Coach, Mentor and Counselor who spoke on “The place of pageantry in Self Development of Young Ladies”
And finally our Keynote speaker, the Former Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex, NPA, Mrs Funmilayo Olotu, she also spoke on “Giving Your Beauty A Meaning” which happens to be the theme of FOMI 2024 edition.
Queen Temitope Ogunkanmi, winner of FOMI 2021, in her welcome speech was able to make us realize that becoming a queen is one purpose, however, we need to know there’s a task ahead of the winner which is the “Pet project”.
Above all, the one thing that got me the most during the audition was the 5 E’s principles which Mrs Olotu said are key in the journey of life. They include: Education, Experience, Exposure, Experiment and Expectation. This and some other great lessons she shared while redefining beauty for us actually made big transformations in some areas of my life, I must say.
Miss Roselyn Olanisimi’s Voting graphic
PLATFORM REPORTERS: We learnt you won #5,000 at the Audition. Tell us more about it.
ROSELYN: I was privileged to be gifted a sum of #5000 which was credited to my bank account the following day.
After an excellent session of teaching by the speakers at the Audition, the Contestants were given the golden chance to react and express themselves on the talks so far.
I happened to be the first contestant to talk by giving a word of appreciation for the great lessons learnt and the efforts of FOMI in imparting such indispensable knowledge in us.
PLATFORM REPORTERS: How do you feel winning the Week One Voting Campaign?
ROSELYN: I was super excited when I got to know that I am the winner of week one voting campaign. It encouraged me to put more effort as my hope was not dashed. The vote counts was so transparent to the contestants. No cheating. In fact, I made a topromised myself that I will talk about FOMI to other young ladies out there who have been searching for a genuine pageantry organization like FOMI. A big shout to FOMI team 
PLATFORM REPORTERS: You came Second in the Photo Challenge as DAMMY edged you out with some margins. How do you feel when you saw the result?
ROSELYN: I was so happy being in the second position but at the same time, I had to work harder to perform better. And I’ll like to mention that “hardwork pays”.
Miss NSC, Roselyn Olanisimi
PLATFORM REPORTERS: Do you plan to go out of your way to also take the lead in this Week Two Voting Campaign or you just want to maintain top five position going forward?
ROSELYN: I have been able to create some other ways of campaign which I know will yield better results (I will keep it personal) No going back. Forward ever.
PLATFORM REPORTERS: What’s your message to other contestants who didn’t do so well in either the Photo Challenge or Week One Voting Campaign?
ROSELYN: My short message to other contestants who didn’t do so well in either the photo challenge or one week of voting campaign is that “A race is not of who started well but who ends it well”.
PLATFORM REPORTERS: Finally, winning this pageant is like running a marathon because the tasks and activities are in stages. So how prepared are you to go all the way and how determined are you to win the crown in the long run?
ROSELYN: What keeps me winning is grace, passion and hardwork. I believe with this nothing will seem difficult. The passion I, Olanisimi Roselyn, Kanyinsola have for the crown will make me do anything legit to have it.