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Menaye Donkor (born 20 March 1981) is a Canadian-born Ghanaian businesswoman, entrepreneur, model and philanthropist.[1] She was Miss Universe Ghana in 2004.[2] Donkor is married to Ghanaian professional footballer Sulley Muntari. [3]

Menaye Donkor
Born (1981-03-20) 20 March 1981 (age 43)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CitizenshipCanada and Ghana
EducationMarketing, Business Marketing
Alma materYork University
(BBA)
Occupation(s)businesswoman, model, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Known forMiss Universe Ghana, 2004
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Spouse
(m. 2010)

Early life and education

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Menaye Donkor was born in Toronto and raised in Accra, Ghana. She is the youngest of seven siblings, with four brothers and two sisters.[4] At the age of seven, she inherited the "Royal Stool Bearer" title from her paternal grandmother, the queen mother of Agona Asafo.[4]

Donkor received her primary education at Morning Star School in Ghana and studied in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, during high school. She returned to her birthplace of Toronto to study business marketing at York University, where she graduated with honors.[5]

Career

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In her early twenties, Donkor won the title of Miss Universe Ghana[6] and spent a few years working as a model. She appeared on the covers of magazines such as New African Woman, Pompey Life, SportsWeek (La Gazzetta dello sport), Canoe Magazine, and Maxim Italy.[citation needed]

She represented Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012 and 2013. From 2006 until 2009, she co-managed and marketed her then-boyfriend, later husband, Sulley Muntari's brand. In 2012, she became the face of Printex,[7] a fabric and textiles company in Ghana.

SHE-Y by Menaye

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Menaye created and launched the Italian label SHE-Y. Early in 2016, the company released its first all-natural goods, using ethically sourced Shea butter from Ghana.[8]

Personal life

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Menaye is married to Sulley Muntari, and they have two children.[9] She is the cousin of Ama K. Abebrese and[10] she is a Christian.[1]

Philanthropy

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Menaye started the Menaye Charity Organization in 2004 to help children in Ghana by offering free education.[11]

In 2021, her firm, Sincerëly Ghana Limited, partnered with Project BRAVE to provide sanitary pads to young women in Keta, located in the Volta region. The company launched the Sister-2-Sister initiative to provide sanitary pads to ladies in underprivileged communities in Ghana.[12]

Honours and recognition

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In September 2012, Menaye was honored and chosen by the chief and elders of Agona Asafo in the Central Region of Ghana to be the ‘Nkosuohemaa’ or ‘Development Queen’ of Agona Asafo.[13] Her official title is Nanahemaa Menaye Afumade Afrakoma I. In 2015, Menaye was given a special mention at the Infant Charity Awards in Milan for being "Female Friend of the Children."[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b Arthur, Portia (27 February 2017). "12 things you didn't know about Menaye Donkor". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Philanthropist, model and former Miss Universe Ghana, Menaye Donkor Muntari announced as AFWL 2012 ambassador". allafricafashion.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Menaye Donkor: Who's that girl?". Africasia.com. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  4. ^ a b "I'm a true African woman-Menaye Donkor". www.ghanaweb.com. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Getting to know Menaye Donkor". www.gq.co.za. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Muntari pushed me to Miss Universe Ghana — Menaye". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  7. ^ "New face of Printex Menaye Donkor tours Printex outlets". News Ghana. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Menaye Donkor Official Website".
  9. ^ "Why Ohemaa Woyeje would have loved to marry Sulley Muntari". GhanaWeb. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  10. ^ "The story of how a Ghanaian pageantry queen met a football star". GhanaWeb. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Menaye Donkor shares her passion for giving back". www.ghanaweb.com. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Menaye Donkor-Muntari launches 'Sister-2-Sister' campaign to support girl-child - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Ghana Web". 30 November 2001.
  14. ^ "VanityFair.it". 19 March 2015.
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