Regina Askia-Williams

Regina Askia-Williams (born in Imaobong Regina of Askia Usoro on 16 December, 1967) is a Nigerian-born, American-based actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She received her certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and practices in New York City. She writes and speaks publicly advocating for African outreach in children's health, education, and economic development.[1][2][3][4]

Regina Askia-Williams
Born
Imaobong Regina Askia Usoro

(1967-12-16) 16 December 1967
Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Other namesRegina Askia
Alma materUniversity of Calabar
University of Lagos
Wagner College
Occupation(s)Nurse practitioner, actress, former model
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMost Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1989, Miss Unilag 88
Hair colourBrown
Eye colourHazel
Major
competition(s)		Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1989

Career

Beauty pageants

In 1988, Askia-Williamsa, former medical student who had transferred from the University of Calabar to the University of Lagos, was crowned Miss Unilag. That same year, she placed second in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) contest. In 1989, she assumed the title of MBGN when winner Bianca Onoh resigned. In 1990, Askia-Williams represented Nigeria at Miss Charm International held in Leningrad, Russia, and came second.[5] She was the first Nigerian to compete at the Miss International pageant in Japan, where she was awarded most outstanding traditional costume.

Modeling

After gaining public recognition in Nigeria as a beauty pageant winner, a modeling career opened up for Askia-Williams. She appeared in several Nigerian print and television commercials including international accounts Visine®. Chicken George fast food, Kessingsheen Hair Care, and boutique chain Collectibles. She also worked on several runway shows, and in 2007, she modelled for the 2000-N-Six face cleansing range alongside her daughter, model Stephanie Hornecker.[6] In 2006, Askia-Williams hosted a charity fashion show at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York, which displayed the creations of top African designers and her own label Regine Fashions.[7]

Acting

Askia-Williams's acting break came in 1993, when she played gold-digger "Tokunbo Johnson" in the Nigerian soap Fortunes (later Mega Fortunes) on NTA Network, a role which earned her critical acclaim and recognition as a Nigerian actress. As a result, Askia-Williams starred in several "Nollywood" films during the 1990s and early 2000s, most of which were filmed to be released directly to video to a wide audience in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana,[8] and broadcast by Nigerian television networks ITV, StarTV, and the state broadcaster TVT.[9][10] She took some time off[when} and returned to acting in a Nigerian film entitled Web.[11] She received the "Best Actress in Nigeria" award by Afro Hollywood London for her performance in 2000 [ref].

Personal life

Askia-Williams currently lives in America with her family. She is a graduate of the University of Lagos, Nigeria with a degree in Biology. She earned her nursing degree at Wagner College in the United States.[12][13][14] and is now a Family Nurse Practitioner practicing in New York City.[15][16][17][18] Only three months after relocating to New York City with her family,[19][20] she survived the attack on the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. She escaped from the building, where she worked at the time.[19][20]

Askia-Williams is married to American Rudolph 'Rudy' Williams, nephew of Ron Everette and grandson of Fess Williams. The couple have two children together: daughter Teesa Olympia and son Rudolph Junior. Askia-Williams has another daughter from a previous relationship, model Stephanie Horneck.

Advocacy and medical outreach

Askia-Williams has maintained an active interest in supporting medical outreach in Nigeria. In 2005, she hosted a fashion show at the Nigerian Embassy in New York City to raise awareness of the plight of children's social amenities in Nigeria.[7]

In 2007, Askia-Williams was among several African women given an award by the Celebrating African Motherhood Organization (CAM) at a gala event in Washington, D.C.[21]

Askia-Williams continues to promote greater collaboration between Africa and its diaspora with fashion shows as well as medical missions to Africa. She co-hosts an Internet broadcast discussion program, African Health Dialogues. The program covers such topics as the effectiveness of mobile medical clinics in Africa.[22] Her written articles have also appeared online, and in the "Saturday Clinic" series in the Nigerian newspaper This Day.[14][23]

Filmography

As an actress, Askia-Williams has starred in the following films:[24]

  • Slave Warrior: The Beginning (video) (2007)
  • Veno (video) (2004)
  • Dangerous Babe (2003)
  • Man Snatcher (video) (2003)
  • Festival of Fire (2002)
  • Vuga (video) (2000)
  • Vuga 2 (video) (2000)
  • The President's Daughter (2000)
  • Highway to the Grave (2000)
  • Dirty Game (video) (1998)
  • Full Moon (1998)
  • Suicide Mission (1998)
  • Juliet Must Die
  • Maximum Risk
  • Mena
  • Queen of the Night
  • Red Machete
  • Most Wanted

References
  1. "African Health Dialogues". African Views. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  2. Segun-oduntan, Olumide (6 May 2012). "Regina Askia's life as a nurse". National Mirror. Nigeria. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. Ajiboye, Segun (30 July 2016). "Why I abandoned acting to become a nurse -Ex-beauty queen Regina Askia-Williams". The Nation. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  4. Okporu, Rachel (3 February 2022). "'Indeed she's ageless' Reactions as Actress Regina Askia shares 30 years throwback photo". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  5. Miss Charm International[Usurped!]
  6. 2000-N-Six Archived 10 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Regine 2006 fashion Show in New York City to benefit children in Africa". African Events. Archived from Regine Fashions the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2018. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  8. Smith, Bonnie G. (2008). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History, Volume 1. Oxford University Press. pp. 342. ISBN 9780195148909.
  9. Mahir, Saul & Ralph A. Austen (2010). Viewing African Cinema in the Twenty-First Century: Art Films and the Nollywood Video Revolution. Ohio University Press. pp. 72. ISBN 9780821419311.
  10. Media Review. Diamond Publications, 2000. 10 (1–5): 15, 28. 2000. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. "The Return of Regina Askia – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  12. "She Did It! Regina Askia-Williams graduates from Nurse Practitioner Program at Wagner College". Bella Naija. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  13. Akande, Victor (6 May 2012). "Regina Askia turns nurse". The Nation Online. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  14. "African Health Dialogues: Mrs. Regina Askia-Williams, RN". African Views. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  15. "Nurses, spinal cord of health system – Group". The Vanguard. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  16. "Regina Askia Urges Nigerian Nurses to Partner with Counterparts in Diaspora". Medical world Nigeria. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  17. Profile
  18. Interview with Omasan Buwa
  19. "Regina Askia – Still wearing the crown of yesteryears". Nigeria News. 14 August 2013.
  20. The News. Independent Communications Network Ltd., 2001. 17: 32. 1 October 2001. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. "Celebrating African Motherhood Organization (CAM) Gala". African Events. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  22. "Effectiveness of Mobile Clinics in Africa". Africanviews.org. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  23. "Regina Askia-Williams, RN". African Views. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  24. "Regina Askia". nigerian-movies.net. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
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