By Alhaji Musa Bah

Former Miss Sierra Leone, rapper, and politician Natasha Beckley has declared her candidacy for the position of Deputy Chairperson of the All People’s Congress (APC) in Port Loko District. The announcement, made on her Facebook page, marks a bold step in challenging traditional gender roles in Sierra Leonean politics.

Beckley began her active political journey eight years ago and has since served in multiple leadership roles, including APC MP aspirant for Constituency 075 in Bakeh Loko (2018), APC Councillor for Ward 235 in the Port Loko City Council (2018–2023), and Coordinator for the North-West Region on the TIEMC 21 Committee (2022). In 2023, she contested the mayoral seat of Port Loko City Council.

Reflecting on her career, Beckley addressed the stereotypes she has faced. “How can a former Miss Sierra Leone become a politician? Because of beauty, some will see you as worthless. How can a rapper be a politician? Because of your career path, you are classed uneducated,” she said. “As leaders in our country, our job is to inspire the nation’s youth, leading by example so that dreams come true when you believe in yourself.”

She explained that her decision to vie for the Deputy Chairmanship—rather than a role traditionally reserved for women—was driven by a desire to break barriers in a male-dominated arena. “Trying and failing is not failure, but the fear to try and not trying at all is failure,” she added, urging voters to embrace her vision.

The APC elections in Port Loko are scheduled for September 2025.