{{Short description|Beauty pageant in Liberia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox organization | name = Miss Grand Liberia | image = | image_size = | caption = | formation = {{Start date and age|2021|08|10}} | founder = Velegar Curry | type = [[Beauty pageant]] | headquarters = [[Monrovia]] | location = [[Liberia]] | leader_title = National director | leader_name = Velegar Curry (2021) | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | parent_organization = | language = {{Hlist|English}} | affiliations = [[Miss Grand International]] | budget = | website = }} '''Miss Grand Liberia''' was a national female [[beauty pageant]] in Liberia, headquartered in [[Monrovia]].<ref name=hq>{{cite web|url=https://scontent.fubp1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/198196569_2891351897752246_156293664012849815_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=PcHZBW9CyeYQ7kNvgHBvZAf&_nc_oc=AdigjkKlPz2yPDspiy_Mr9sdL0Pr1Nvjkwt2ul_U-evR3oj-nYBecn1xxqoLNv67E8xP7HYO6gq5cpCQQjv4Z1Pr&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fubp1-1.fna&_nc_gid=Vz6jQPZ76jAZhS9PUgEvsQ&oh=00_AYGz-NrrJ6e5sQDXaKAk43LhOetGBz0cf_FpHLAmSj_Ywg&oe=67FCE352|title=Miss Grand Liberia 2021|work=Miss Grand Liberia|date=June 2021|accessdate=15 March 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250315121052/https://scontent.fubp1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/198196569_2891351897752246_156293664012849815_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=PcHZBW9CyeYQ7kNvgHBvZAf&_nc_oc=AdigjkKlPz2yPDspiy_Mr9sdL0Pr1Nvjkwt2ul_U-evR3oj-nYBecn1xxqoLNv67E8xP7HYO6gq5cpCQQjv4Z1Pr&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fubp1-1.fna&_nc_gid=Vz6jQPZ76jAZhS9PUgEvsQ&oh=00_AYGz-NrrJ6e5sQDXaKAk43LhOetGBz0cf_FpHLAmSj_Ywg&oe=67FCE352|archive-date=2025-03-15}}</ref><ref name=first/><ref name=liberia2021/> The competition was established in 2021<ref name=ori/> by Velegar Curry, a [[Liberian American]] based in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]].<ref name=directorname>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/registration-call-for-miss-grand-liberia-2021|title=Beauty queens of Liberia, who knows, it could be one of us bringing our country to the front page of the world in Thailand or the United States of America on the Miss Grand International stage. Rush now on Instagram, and on the Miss Grand Liberia page to register now.|date=18 June 2021|author=Cleopatra Speare|accessdate=15 March 2025}}</ref> The winner of the pageant was designated to represent Liberia at the affiliated international competition, [[Miss Grand International]].<ref name=ori/><ref name=modelliberia/><ref name=nine/>
Since the inception of [[Miss Grand International]], Liberia has participated only once, in 2021, when Hajamaya Mulbah represented the country;<ref name=liberiareplace/><ref name=afrikliberia/> she did not achieve placement among the finalists.<ref name=prachachatresult>{{cite web|url=https://www.prachachat.net/spinoff/entertainment/news-815340|title=มิสแกรนด์เวียดนาม คว้ามงทอง Miss Grand International 2021|date=4 December 2021|accessdate=23 December 2021|language=th|work={{ill|Prachachat|th|ประชาชาติธุรกิจ}}|archivedate=5 December 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205051211/https://www.prachachat.net/spinoff/entertainment/news-815340}}</ref>
==History== After obtaining the [[Miss Grand International]] license for Liberia in 2021, Velegar Curry launched applications for the national competition in June of that year, with the contest initially scheduled for August 2021.<ref name=hq/> Owing to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Liberia|COVID-19 pandemic]], the event—featuring nine national finalists—was instead conducted [[virtual event|virtually]] through the [[zoom (software)|Zoom]] platform. The title was originally awarded to Goretti Itoka, a [[social media marketing]] [[strategist]] and former Miss Mano River Union;<ref name=ori>{{cite web|url=https://www.afrik.com/goretti-itoka-nommee-miss-grand-liberia-2021|title=Goretti Itoka nommée Miss Grand Liberia 2021|website=Afrik.com|author=Justin Coulibaly|date=12 August 2021|language=fr|access-date=20 January 2022|archive-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812204418/https://www.afrik.com/goretti-itoka-nommee-miss-grand-liberia-2021}}</ref><ref name=liberiareplace/> however, she was dethroned one month later and replaced by fellow finalist Hajamaya Mulbah.<ref name=modelliberia>{{cite web|url=https://www.modelsgistafrica.com/2021/09/miss-grand-international-2021hajamaya.html|title=Hajamaya replaces Goretti as Miss Grand Liberia 2021|date=25 September 2021|access-date=20 January 2022|work=Modelsgistafrica.com|archive-date=20 January 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220120141217/https://www.modelsgistafrica.com/2021/09/miss-grand-international-2021hajamaya.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=nine>{{cite web|url=https://www.modelsgistafrica.com/2021/09/miss-grand-international-2021hajamaya.html|title=Miss Grand International 2021 Hajamaya replaces Goretti as Miss Grand Liberia 2021|date=21 October 2021|accessdate=16 February 2024|author=Noradence|website=www.modelsgistafrica.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021145326/https://www.modelsgistafrica.com/2021/09/miss-grand-international-2021hajamaya.html |archive-date=21 October 2021 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref name=liberiareplace>{{cite web|url=https://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/Goretti-Itoka-replaced-by-Hajamaya-Mulbah-as-Miss-Grand-Liberia-2021/Goretti-Itoka-replaced-by-Hajamaya-Mulbah-as-Miss-Grand-Liberia-2021/eventshow/86311095.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 September 2021|access-date=20 January 2022|title=Goretti Itoka replaced by Hajamaya Mulbah as Miss Grand Liberia 2021|archive-date=20 January 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220120135549/https://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/Goretti-Itoka-replaced-by-Hajamaya-Mulbah-as-Miss-Grand-Liberia-2021/eventshow/86311108.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=afrikliberia>{{cite web|url=https://www.afrik.com/miss-grand-liberia-goretti-itoka-explique-pourquoi-elle-a-ete-remplacee-par-hajamaya-mulbah|language=fr|title=Miss Grand Liberia, Goretti Itoka explique pourquoi elle a été remplacée par Hajamaya Mulbah|author=Justin Coulibaly|date=16 September 2021|access-date=20 January 2022|work=Afrik.com|archive-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917013754/https://www.afrik.com/miss-grand-liberia-goretti-itoka-explique-pourquoi-elle-a-ete-remplacee-par-hajamaya-mulbah}}</ref>
==Edition== Miss Grand Liberia was organized as a stand-alone contest only once in 2021. {{table alignment}} {| class="wikitable defaultcenter col4left col6left" style="font-size: 90%"; ! Year ! Edition ! Date ! Final venue ! Entrants ! Winner ! {{tooltip|Ref.|References}} |- | [[Miss Grand Liberia 2021|2021]] | 1st | 10 August 2021 | {{n/a|Virtual contest}} | 9 | [[Montserrado County|Montserrado]] – Goretti Itoka | <ref name=first>{{cite web|url=https://www.exclusif.net/Goretti-Itoka-elue-Miss-Grand-Liberia-2021_a31286.html|language=fr|date=12 August 2021|accessdate=13 January 2024|title=Goretti Itoka élue Miss "Grand Liberia 2021"|website=www.exclusif.net|archivedate=13 January 2024|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240113075954/https://www.exclusif.net/Goretti-Itoka-elue-Miss-Grand-Liberia-2021_a31286.html}}</ref><ref name=liberia2021>{{cite web|url=http://liberianstarsviews.com/entertainment/goretti-itoka-to-compete-in-miss-grand-international-2021/|via=[[Internet Archive]]|date=2021|accessdate=13 January 2024|title=Goretti Itoka to compete in Miss Grand International 2021|publisher=Liberian Stars View Inc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821130914/http://liberianstarsviews.com/entertainment/goretti-itoka-to-compete-in-miss-grand-international-2021/ |archive-date=21 August 2021 }}</ref> |}
==International competition== The following is a list of Ghanaian representatives at the [[Miss Grand International]] contest. {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center; width:100%" !Year !Representative !Title !Placement !Special Award !National Director !Ref. |- |rowspan=2|[[Miss Grand International 2021|2021]] |Hajamaya Mulbah |Runner-up Miss Grand Liberia 2021 |Unplaced |– |rowspan=2|Velegar Curry |rowspan=2|<ref name=liberiareplace/><ref name=afrikliberia/><br><ref name=geez/> |- |Goretti Itoka |Miss Grand Liberia 2021 |colspan=2 {{n/a|Dethroned}} |- |colspan=7 {{n/a|Did not compete from 2013 to 2020}} |}
==Scandal== In 2021, approximately one month following her coronation as Miss Grand Liberia, Goretti Itoka was supplanted by fellow finalist Hajamaya Mulbah.<ref name=liberiareplace/><ref name=afrikliberia/><ref name=geez>{{cite web|url=https://geezliberia.com/2021/09/hajamaya-mulbah-replaces-goretti-itoka-at-the-miss-grand-international-pageant/|title=Hajamaya Mulbah Replaces Goretti Itoka At The Miss Grand International Pageant.|work=Geez Liberia|accessdate=15 March 2025|date=15 September 2021|author=Kerkula Blama|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250315113721/https://geezliberia.com/2021/09/hajamaya-mulbah-replaces-goretti-itoka-at-the-miss-grand-international-pageant/|archive-date=2025-03-15}}</ref> The organizing committee publicly stated that Itoka had voluntarily relinquished the title on account of health concerns. Itoka, however, later refuted this claim, asserting that her removal had occurred without prior notice or adequate justification.<ref name=liberiareplace>{{cite web|url=https://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/Goretti-Itoka-replaced-by-Hajamaya-Mulbah-as-Miss-Grand-Liberia-2021/Goretti-Itoka-replaced-by-Hajamaya-Mulbah-as-Miss-Grand-Liberia-2021/eventshow/86311095.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 September 2021|access-date=20 January 2022|title=Goretti Itoka replaced by Hajamaya Mulbah as Miss Grand Liberia 2021|archive-date=20 January 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220120135549/https://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/Goretti-Itoka-replaced-by-Hajamaya-Mulbah-as-Miss-Grand-Liberia-2021/eventshow/86311108.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=afrikliberia>{{cite web|url=https://www.afrik.com/miss-grand-liberia-goretti-itoka-explique-pourquoi-elle-a-ete-remplacee-par-hajamaya-mulbah|language=fr|title=Miss Grand Liberia, Goretti Itoka explique pourquoi elle a été remplacée par Hajamaya Mulbah|author=Justin Coulibaly|date=16 September 2021|access-date=20 January 2022|work=Afrik.com|archive-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917013754/https://www.afrik.com/miss-grand-liberia-goretti-itoka-explique-pourquoi-elle-a-ete-remplacee-par-hajamaya-mulbah}}</ref><ref name=modelliberia>{{cite web|url=https://www.modelsgistafrica.com/2021/09/miss-grand-international-2021hajamaya.html|title=Hajamaya replaces Goretti as Miss Grand Liberia 2021|date=25 September 2021|access-date=20 January 2022|work=Modelsgistafrica.com|archive-date=20 January 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220120141217/https://www.modelsgistafrica.com/2021/09/miss-grand-international-2021hajamaya.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism of Liberia (MICAT) subsequently intervened in an attempt to mediate the situation, issuing formal correspondence to the organizing body, though no official response was ever recorded.<ref name=modelliberia/> In lieu of reinstatement, Itoka was extended an invitation to represent Liberia at [[Miss Grand International 2022]], an offer which she ultimately declined.<ref name=goss>{{cite web|url=https://gossipliberia.com/miss-grand-liberia-nd-reject-winner-to-participate-in-2021-miss-grand-international-big-wahala-in-liberia-pageantry/|title=Miss Grand Liberia ND Reject Winner to participate in 2021 Miss Grand International. Big Wahala in Liberia Pageantry|date=15 September 2021|accessdate=13 January 2024|author=Anthony M Fofana|website=gossipliberia.com|archivedate=13 January 2024|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240113074654/https://gossipliberia.com/miss-grand-liberia-nd-reject-winner-to-participate-in-2021-miss-grand-international-big-wahala-in-liberia-pageantry/}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} {{portal bar|Liberia}} {{Miss Grand International titleholders}} {{Navboxes| | title = [[Miss Grand International]] participating countries and territories | list = {{Miss Grand national pageants in Africa}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in Asia and Oceania}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in Europe}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in North America}} {{Miss Grand national pageants in South America}} }}
[[Category:Miss Grand International by country|Liberia]] [[Category:Beauty pageants in Liberia|Grand Liberia]] [[Category:Liberian awards]] [[Category:Recurring events established in 2021]]