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Regina Askia-Williams (born Imaobong Regina Askia Usoro, 1968), also known as Regina Askia is a former Nollywood actress, model, television producer and educational activist.
In 1988, Askia-Williams won her university's beauty pageant - Miss Unilag, and later competed in Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. Although she was a favourite with the audience, she only managed to place second, but she realized her dream the following year when Bianca Onoh resigned. As no contest had been held that year, Askia-Williams was automatically named MBGN 1989, although she frequently credits herself as a former Miss Nigeria.
During her short reign, Askia-Williams represented Nigeria in Miss Charm held in Leningrad, Russia, and came second. She was also the Nigerian delegate at Miss International 1990 in Japan, where she failed to make an impact.
As a model, Askia-Williams has featured in several Nigerian commercials including Kessingsheen Hair Care, TCP, and most famously, Visine. She also worked on runway shows. Most recently she has modelled for the 2000-N-Six cleansing range alongside her daughter and in 2006, she hosted a charity fashion show in New York, which displayed the creations of top African designers and her own label Regine Fashions.
Askia-Williams's acting break was in 1993, when she played gold-digger Tokunbo Johnson in Nigerian soap Fortunes (later Mega Fortunes), a role which earned her critical acclaim. Although the home video sequel Dark Goddess was a commercial flop, she found herself cast in more Nollywood movies, and has been nominated at award ceremonies for her performances. Askia-Williams has also produced several television shows and films.
In 2000, she was named Best Actress in Nigeria by Afro Hollywood London, and has earned more movie award nominations.
Askia-Williams is married to American Rudolph 'Rudy' Williams; together, the couple have two children - daughter Teesa Olympia and son Rudolph Junior. Askia-Williams's other daughter, model Stephanie Hornecker, is from a previous relationship with a French businessman. A graduate of the University of Lagos with a degree in Biology, Askia-Williams, who has since stepped out of the spotlight in Nigeria, currently lives in America with her family, and is training to become a Nurse Practitioner.
It has been rumoured that she is separated from Williams.[11] However, in an interview with fellow ex-MBGN Omasan Buwa, Askia-Williams hinted that she was still married.