Seem missing: Ufuoma Stacey Ejenobor

This beautiful actress that had thrilled us in her movies with her awesome performances seem to have been no where to be found lately. Speculations have it that work is affecting her marriage hence her need to stay clear of. But the beauty queen insisted in an interview that her marriage has no influence in her career as she has done movies that are yet to be released. Presently she is working on producing a television programme. She recently featured in 'Hear Word', a stage drama directed by Ifeoma Fafunwa. The stage drama was Ufuoma's first stage drama performance and she acted alongside super stars such as Joke Sylva, Iretiola Doyle, Taiwo Ajai Akande, Kate Henshaw, Rita Edwards and others.

The Benin City born, Delta origin Ufuoma was born on 23 April 1981. She had been a lover of the screen as a child. She had her secondary education at Federal Government College Odogbolu, Ogun state, where she graduated as Head Girl in the 1998/99 session. She went on to bag a degree in French from the University Of Lagos, Nigeria where she also did her Masters in Public and International affairs. Ufuoma is married to a European man Steven McDermott with whom she has a son.

Ufuoma started as a photographic model in 2000 and later moved on to runway modelling and then to pagentries. She was first runner up Miss Nigeria 2004 and that qualified her to represent Nigeria in Miss Earth World. She was also first runner up Queen of all nations pageant in 2003 and Queen Afrik in 2002. She won Miss Congeniality in Miss Commonwealth pageant in 2002 and winner Miss Ebony in 2001. She however has bowed out from modelling.

She played a Detective role in her first movie 'The President must not die' where she acted alongside Late veteran actor Enebeli Elebuwa and the current Actors Guild of Nigeria President Ibinabo Fiberesima. The movie was directed by Zeb Ejiro and released in 2005. The last movie she was seen in, 'Private storm' was directed by Lancelot Odua Imasuen and released in 2010. Ufuoma acted 'private storm' alongside Ramsey Nouah, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, John Dumello and others.

Ufuoma has got several award nomimations. She has won the following awards- Go Red African Best Model in 2007, African Youth Society Role Model Award in 2009, She represented Nigeria in Miss Earth World in 2004. She also won 'Fille Africaine' at the Nigerian French Village in 2003, Best Model Award at the African Fashion show by the African heart foundation in 2007.

Ufuoma has tried her hand in presenting as she has hosted and anchored several events. She also featured in Lagbaja's music video 'dream come true' in 2006. She has also featured in Wale Adenuga's super story where she acted Joke in 'Everything it takes'. She played Lilian Wright in 'My Mum and I' television series. She also acted 'secret and lies' and 'Edge of Paradise'. Let us still wait to see her movies but till then she is still missing in her roles.

Fair is more beautiful...

I and five of my course mates: Collins, Desmond, Emeka, Nonso and Okwy were chatting near the entrance to our department when a course mate, Ngozi greeted us as she passed and became the topic of our discuss.

Okwy changed the topic by commenting on how ugly Ngozi has become. Emeka concurred as he remembered how Ngozi used to be the most beautiful girl he ever known. Desmond who has a record of having dated almost all the fine girls in our department said he couldn't believe he once had a crush on her. Collins expressed surprise on how guys used to flock around Ngozi and think her the most beautiful girl in the department while Nonso called her 'ashawo'.

I was the last to speak, and have to hide a grimace at my friends surprised look even with my known habit of opposing the general view. I used their silence to drive home my point and showed them two different pictures of Ngozi on my phone; she was dark skinned in one and fair skinned in the other. I told them that they didn't allow themselves see that Ngozi is better with a fair skin because they were used to a dark skinned Ngozi.

This raised a heated argument as Okwy and Collins were almost won over by my point while Emeka, Nonso and Desmond maintained strongly their Ngozi-is-now-ugly opinion. Desmond retorted on how I allowed pictures fool me. Nonso asked them not to mind me as I always side bad things. Emeka called me unbelievable while Okwy and Collins were described as foolish and confused.

The argument continued till Dr. Okonkwo, the lecturer we were waiting for, drove into our department packing space; we rushed into our classroom still arguing.

Ngozi is one of the popular girls in my department. She was very dark, the kind of dark called ebony. She was my school's beauty Queen in my year one and was meant to contest for S.U.G Vice Presidency but was disqualified two days to the election because one of her opponents wrote a petition against her. Her opponent claimed that Ngozi was a prostitute hence her need to bleach. The department responsible for screening the contestants were convinced by the claim, while Ngozi's reasons for bleaching wasn't considered good enough even though she was more beautiful with a fair complexion.