Celebrated International pageant queen and celebrated catwalk coach to elevate the Group’s pageants franchises — beginning with Miss Freetown 2026.
The LAKE Group has appointed Maria Aminata Koroma, popularly known as “Di Maria,” as Pageant Coordinator for the Group’s beauty-pageant franchises. Her two-year appointment takes effect on 1 September 2026.
In her new role, Ms. Koroma will work alongside Moi Tee, the Executive Directors of Miss Freetown – Sierra Leone Limited and the upcoming Miss Mano River International Beauty Pageant to ensure the successful coordination and delivery of these LAKE Group event franchises. Her first assignment will be with Miss Freetown SL Limited, working collaboratively with the Pageant Producer and the fifteen (15) queens to recreate a pageant experience unlike any other for Miss Freetown 2026.
“I’m delighted to welcome Di Maria to the LAKE Group. She brings a wealth of pageantry experience — as an international queen who represented Sierra Leone across four countries and as one of our most sought-after catwalk coaches — and I’m confident she will help us recreate a pageant experience unlike any other,” said Prof. Alhaji K. Tarawally, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the LAKE Group.
A Queen, a Coach, and a Champion of Young Women
A former beauty queen who represented Sierra Leone in Turkey, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, Maria Aminata Koroma has built a distinguished pageantry career-winning Miss Photogenic, Best Top-Two Catwalk, Top-3 Top Model and Best National Costume along the way.
She has since become one of the country’s most respected catwalk coaches,public speaking mentors and pageant directors, helping queens triumph in many of Sierra Leone’s biggest pageants. Her recent engagements include serving as coordinator for the Sierra Leone Beauty Pageant 2025, and as catwalk coach for AYV Miss University and Kenema Fashion Week.
She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Development Studies and is a Master of Public Administration candidate at Njala University.
Across the stage and the classroom, she brings a rare blend of international pageantry experience, professional coaching and a genuine passion for empowering young women — precisely the qualities the LAKE Group’s pageants need as they scale to new heights.
“It is with a grateful heart that I accept this appointment as Pageant Coordinator for the LAKE Group. This is a dream come true — it is my
passion and my career. With my pageantry experience, I look forward to sharing my ideas and making a positive impact on the Miss Freetown Beauty Pageant 2026 and its queens,” said Ms. Koroma.
About Miss Freetown
Established in 2011 by Dr. Alhaji K. Tarawally and a subsidiary of the LAKE Group, the Miss Freetown Beauty Pageant SL Limited is Sierra Leone’s leading celebration of beauty,
intellect and creativity among young women. Through initiatives such as the Girl Power Initiative and the Hands of Our Girls Campaign, it champions cultural appreciation, leadership and self-confidence — nurturing queens who have gone on to represent Sierra
Leone on national and international stages.
LAKE Group — African Roots. Global Reach.
Media Contact
LAKE Group Communications & Media Directorate
- Email: info@lakegroupsl.com
- WhatsApp: +232 75 002 238
- US Line: +1 669 335 1530
- Website: www.lakegroupsl.com (under reconstruction)
Issued by:
Kamara Musa Mark
Chief Operating Officer, LAKE Group
A F R I C A N R O O T S .
G L O B A L R E A C H .