From X Factor to pageant queen! Pop hopeful who was kidnapped as a teenager before fame on the ITV show with mentor Gary Barlow is poised to represent Great Britain in the Miss Universe finals

• Jeanette Akua, 27, who lives in London, has won the Miss Universe GB pageant 
• She will represent Britain in the Miss Universe finals competition in Florida 
• Business development manager is best known for appearing on X Factor in 2013
• Previously spoke about being rejected in a talent show and kidnapped in Africa

She was mentored by Gary Barlow on The X Factor and survived a kidnapping ordeal in her native Johannesburg as a teenager – now Jeannette Akua is set to represent Great Britain in the Miss Universe finals in Florida after winning the UK crown.  

The South Africa-born beauty, 27, who lives in London, was announced as the winner of Miss Universe GB in a virtual event on Tuesday, with Dr Vincent Wong as head judge. 

Since scooping the crown, she took to Instagram to gush about the importance of following your dreams, writing: ‘I AM MISS UNIVERSE GREAT BRITAIN. I WON!!! This win means so much to me! It’s more than just a crown. Pageants are more than just “beauty”. It’s bigger than that. 

‘It’s about celebrating women and the many layers we come in. It’s about being AUDACIOUS and having the nerve to pursue your dreams. Feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Thank you God. My heart is so full.’

 Jeanette Akua, 27, (pictured) who lives in London, has been crowned the winner of Miss Universe GB in a virtual ceremony, after lockdown postponed the London heats in December

Jeanette (far left) achieved 10th place on the X Factor in 2013, after joining Sese Foster and Rielle Carrington to form girl group Miss Dynamix (pictured) 

Posting on Instagram, Jeanette gushed that the pageant is about encouraging women to pursue their dreams 

Jeanette went on to thank the competition for providing a platform for young women to ‘amplify their voices’ and the judges for ‘believing in her cause’.  

She went on: ‘Thank you to my friends, family and supportive partner for always joining me on my crazy adventures. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey. 

‘From the kind messages, to the votes and everyone who has helped me believe I can do it. The list is too long to type but you know who you are. The work has just begun and I’m so proud and honoured to represent Great Britain on the @MissUniverse stage in May. Let’s go!!’

Jeanette will represent Britain at the Miss Universe competition in May, held in Florida. 

Jeanette (pictured) praised Emma Jenkins, who was the previous Miss Universe GB, for being an example in her Instagram post

Jeanette’s kidnapping as a teenager made headlines during her time on The X Factor (pictured on the night Miss Dynamix were voted off)

A business development manager in addition to her talents as a singer, Jeanette has nearly 5,000 followers on Instagram since her appearance on the ITV talent show in 2013.

She moved to the UK after she was rejected when she auditioned for South African Idols.

Jeanette captured the attention of UK audiences after it emerged she survived a terrifying kidnapping in Johannesburg, where she claimed people are ‘murdered for less than 2p’.

Then 18, the Miss Universe GB representative had been handing out flyers for her part-time job in the Randburg district when gunmen swooped. She admitted her parents weren’t aware that she had accepted the job and she was ‘naive’ to be working near to a taxi rank where lots of crimes take place.

Jeanette (pictured) who was born in South Africa, is a business development manager and has a masters degree in International Economic Policy and Analysis

Speaking to The Mirror in 2013, Jeanette said: ‘This man came over, grabbed my hand and yanked my hair. He was shouting but I didn’t understand the language he was speaking. When I answered him in English it only made him more angry. He was asking for my permit, saying I shouldn’t be there.’  

She recalled being dragged inside a building where the kidnappers refused to give her access to water or a phone. Aware that people are often killed for money in South Africa, Jeanette said she was in tears fearing for her life and was held at gunpoint for two days.

‘I was so ­traumatised I could hardly speak. I am lucky to be alive,’ she added. 

Jeanette was freed after a £400 ransom was agreed, however when she reported the incident, she said police didn’t take it seriously because she wasn’t shot. 

Leaving the ordeal behind in search of musical success in the UK, Jeanette was a beauty consultant when she began trying her luck on reality shows.   

Jeanette (pictured) thanked the organisers of Miss Universe GB for providing young women with a platform to amplify their voices

Having impressed the judges with her solo audition for The X Factor in 2013, Jeanette was placed in girl group Miss Dynamix, alongside Sharlene ‘SeSe’ Foster and Riélle Carrington.

The trio of singers went on to achieve 10th place in the series, after receiving mentoring from Gary Barlow, but the group disbanded by January 2014.

Jeanette tried her luck again by becoming one of four members in the girl band Miss Treat Vibe, with the group making it to the semi-finals on series 11 of Britain’s Got Talent in 2017.  

Jeanette then launched a solo career in 2018 with the release of her single ‘Drunk’, which has had over 63,000 views on YouTube.

She explained the inspiration behind the track in the caption of the video, saying: ‘I wrote this song about some of the crazy ways we deal with break-ups. I wanted to bring a light-hearted feel to what can seem like a messy break-up. I hope you guys can relate or just enjoy this song.’

Jeanette has gone on to release a series of other solo songs with the most recent being just three months ago, entitled ‘You Will See Me Fly’. 

She’s now enjoying success in the beauty pageant world, with a stream of responses to her Instagram post celebrating her win gushing that she deserved to be handed the crown. 

A stream of responses on Instagram congratulated Jeanette and wished her success in the Miss Universe finals in May 

One person commented: ‘Congratulations Jeanette! You are an amazing woman with so much to give. You will represent GB beautifully. Enjoy every minute!’

‘Congratulations beautiful. I’m so happy for your success. Look forward to following your journey,’ another said. 

A third added: ‘Wow! How cool! God definitely elevated his people to the highest ranks! Hope you win it all in Florida!’  

Jeanette beat off competition from front-runners Sophie Moulds and Stephanie Hill. 

The winner of the prestigious competition will be announced in May and receive a contract from the Miss Universe Organisation with the expectation of representing the company for a year. 

The winner also receives a luxury apartment for the duration of their reign.

The current Miss Universe is Zozibini Tunzi, who was the first black woman from South Africa to be crowned. 

Miss Universe GB Jeanette beat off competition from Sophie Moulds  (pictured left) and Stephanie Hill (pictured right)

The current Miss Universe is Zozibini Tunzi, who was the first black woman from South Africa to be crowned

Boasting almost 3 million followers on Instagram, Zozibini is a model and activist who champions the fight against gender-violence and gender stereotypes.

She received the $5 million Mouawad Power of Unity Crown which is considered to be the single most valuable crown of any beauty pageant. 

Dr. Wong described Jeanette as ‘everything’ the winner of Miss Universe should be as he listed her qualities including beauty, emotional intelligence and a profession.

According to the Daily Star, he said: ‘This is the most exciting and extraordinary final in my experience so far – the virtual final itself is a statement to show that when women come together to support one another, anything can happen!’   

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