VANESSA OBENG is the definition of a fierce global woman. Her impact can be felt from her family’s native Ghana to Miami to right here in Boston where she rooted herself as a valuable and loved member of both the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots communities.
In the midst of a torrid schedule as the current Ms. Ghana USA -while in preparation for bigger pageants on a worldwide scale- Vanessa was generous enough to take some time to chat with BostonMan Magazine’s Surpaul Cottrell, and to share some fresh insights with her increasingly global audience.
Surpaul Cottrell: You’re Ms. Ghana, USA. No pressure, right? Can you walk us through the moment you were crowned? What was going through your mind and how did your mom react?
Vanessa Obeng: So I was going through so many different emotions at that time. I think my first reaction was just reacting off of all my supporters, my friends, my family and loved ones in the crowd. At the time of the crowning, they kind of had the house lights turned on just a little bit so I can see everyone’s reaction and just seeing everyone cheer and scream for me. It was really humbling and I just felt so grateful that I had such a supportive tribe and village to witness this occasion in person.
I think that’s what made it really memorable for me is that, yeah, a crown is being placed on my head, but I wouldn’t have been able to get there if it wasn’t for my village of people also supporting and flying to Washington, D.C., where the pageant was held. I had people drive all the way from Boston to D.C. I had people take off of work and move things around just to support me in person. So I was overwhelmed with so much joy.
Surpaul Cottrell: From NFL cheerleader to NBA dancer to international pageant queen, is there anything you haven’t done?
Vanessa Obeng: Is there anything I haven’t done? Oh, that’s a good question. Officially start my nonprofit. So that’s definitely in the works in the future. I definitely want to pivot into philanthropic work and have things established both here in the United States as well as Ghana. So that’s something I have yet to do, but it’s definitely in the works.
Surpaul Cottrell: What exactly would you like to do at your non-profit?
Vanessa Obeng: Similar to my pageant platform, I really want to be that liaison for those in the arts looking for mentorship, support, resources in achieving their dreams, whether it’s art-focused and connected with theater, visual arts, dance, or even within the sport industry. I think it’s important to lead the next generation and kind of pay it forward and helping those along the way as you hit certain benchmarks and milestones within your own career. It’s always important to kind of have a helping hand and assist those to get there.
I definitely have so many mentors and teachers that have given me opportunities and have really vouched for me to get to where I am. It’s only right that I also do the same in other ways moving forward.
Surpaul Cottrell: Okay, that’s what’s up. How did your dance career prepare you for the pageant world and what was hard to execute — a double pirouette or walking in six-inch heels while making eye contact with the judges?
Vanessa Obeng: My dance career has definitely impacted not only my pageant life, but also every aspect of my life in a way. I started dancing at the age of 10, so I grew up with that discipline. I’ve had teachers who were almost militant in a way, ran their classes very strict. And so I’ve applied certain principles into pageant life. Even from packing — you know, the way that I pack my suitcases when I was an NFL cheerleader under the directorship of Tracy Sormanti — I still pack the same way now. You know, just being organized, making lists of things, being very visual and double, triple checking everything that I need.
I think certain skills, whether it’s just learning how to pack, not giving up after you don’t see certain results, learning how to adjust in uncomfortable situations, or understanding your particular learning style — I think that can all be applied to not only pageantry and the entertainment sports industry, but in all facets of life.
Surpaul Cottrell: Good answer, good answer. You’re about to compete in Miss Grand Ghana, which is a national preliminary pageant to Grand International in Thailand. How do you prepare mentally and physically for a competition like this?
Vanessa Obeng: So for me, mental preparation is more than half the battle. I am really competing against the former version of myself. Last time I went for a crown and so being the best version of Vanessa going into the competition. Learning how to really implement sleep, having a schedule, creating lists, and really staying organized. My former NBA coach would always say, put your blinders on. It’s as if like you’re a racehorse and you have the blinders keeping you focused and keeping your eyesight ahead on the race and keeping the distractions out.
So right now I have my blinders on. I have clear vision. I know what’s going on, but I’m looking ahead full speed and just staying focused, prioritizing food that I’m eating, working out, exercise, and prepping in all ways possible for this competition.
Surpaul Cottrell: Okay. And more importantly, how many sparkly gowns is too many sparkly gowns?
Vanessa Obeng: There’s never enough sparkly gowns! But to add to that, it’s also important for us to shine from the inside and really put on a pedestal, not only our charisma, the heart that we have for everything that we’re doing and making sure that the judges not only see our outward beauty, but internally everything that we have to offer to the organization and why we’d be an amazing candidate for the crown.
Surpaul Cottrell: Your platform, Expanding Artistic Talents of Our Homeland, is powerful. What inspired this initiative? And can you tell us about a specific artist or moment that made you say, yes, this is why I’m doing this?
Vanessa Obeng: Yeah, I definitely wanted to destigmatize the stereotype of the starving artist. Ghana is so fully immersed in culture, beauty, art, creativity, fashion, music, you name it. And so I really just want to be a part of the wave of creativity that is coming out. And I want to lend a helping hand in any way that I see fit from my experiences dancing professionally with pro sports to also stepping in pageantry. I think it’s important to pay it forward.
As Ghanaians, we have an Adinkra symbol, so we have very powerful concepts. How do I want to say this? It’s called the Sankofa, and it’s a really powerful symbol and concept within the Akan culture. Sankofa directly translates to go back and get it.
What resonates with me on that particular symbol — it looks like a bird, almost like a dove that has an egg on its back and its head is turned back to retrieve that egg. So it loosely translates to not forgetting where you’ve come from as you’re moving forward. So I’m always trying to implement that in what I’m doing. And so I think it’s only right to kind of have that at the forefront when I’m thinking of how to add value with any philanthropic work or anything else that I’m involved in. I think it’s extremely important.
Surpaul Cottrell: OK. So you danced at the Super Bowl, visited orphanages, attended galas — but what’s the most humbling moment of your career so far?
Vanessa Obeng: I think one of the most humbling moments was actually at Super Bowl. Super Bowl 51 was such a heart-wrenching game because the Patriots were not in the lead at all. It was the first Super Bowl game that went into overtime, and this was with the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas. And I remember there was a point where they had the Atlanta families and friends and ownership on the end zones, and they were closing in where we were cheering on the sidelines.
And we barely had any space to dance. And they were bringing out confetti for Atlanta to prep and prepare for them winning. And so even in the midst of that, we just had to be ambassadors of the organization. You want to cry, but at the end of the day, you have to keep your chin high and cheer on the team and encourage the fans and really hope that a different turn of events happened — and that’s exactly what did. And so it was humbling, but definitely the most rewarding moment that I’ve experienced thus far. Ended with a Super Bowl win and making confetti angels on the field. So it was great.
Surpaul Cottrell: What’s been the most unforgettable outfit you have ever had to wear on stage?
Vanessa Obeng: Oh, most unforgettable outfit on stage? I think the Patriots cheerleader signature uniform is definitely unforgettable. It’s iconic. It’s something that — at first, looking at it just seems so unattainable — and making that dream come true at that point in time meant so much to me. And putting that uniform on solidified that I was able to make this dream a reality.
Surpaul Cottrell: As someone who’s proudly repping Ghana on global stages, what do you wish more people knew about Ghana or the African creative scene in general?
Vanessa Obeng: I wish that people knew that Ghana or Ghanaian people aren’t a monolith. Ghana is vibrant, stylish. The people are welcoming and friendly. The country is safe. And it’s just — you’re returning home. When you land at the airport, you see a big sign that says Akwaba, which means welcome.
You’re coming back home, you know? Everyone is just loving and the food is great and the air smells different. I can’t even pinpoint exactly how the air smells, but it’s amazing. And really experiencing it in person is something that I, you know, can’t even describe. I just encourage everyone to visit and experience Ghana for themselves and just take in the experience and the culture in person.
Surpaul Cottrell: What stereotypes are you trying to crush?
Vanessa Obeng: I think the stereotypes that were fed, you know, to us growing up and seeing the struggling children and kids and just painting Africa in that light. Of course, there’s struggle everywhere in the world, but Africa is extremely beautiful. Ghana is beautiful. And it’s — I personally encourage everyone to go and visit and really get well-traveled wherever.
Surpaul Cottrell: I need you to tell me what is the first dish that I need to try when I go to Ghana.
Vanessa Obeng: Jollof rice. Or waché.
Surpaul Cottrell: Explain those, please.
Vanessa Obeng: Okay, so Jollof rice is basically like a tomato-based rice that’s cooked within the tomatoes. It has onions, different types of peppers, seasonings, and you can have an assortment of meat and beef, you name it. And it’s very, very colorful in taste and visually.
Surpaul Cottrell: Thank you for your time Vanessa, we look forward to seeing you continue to succeed on all levels!
Vanessa Obeng: Thank you Surpaul. I appreciate all of the support and you taking the time to feature me!
