Ruth Oguhebe

Lizzie Wright

by Lauren Ashley Lawrence
July 1, 2009

As she walks into the empty school library, 17-year-old Ruth Oguhebe smiles and reaches out for a hug before sitting down at a table and taking off her shoes. Wearing a bright orange floral dress, she lights up the room as she expresses her relief to be out of the scorching 90-degree weather outside. Before meeting Oguhebe, I was already impressed with her colorful résumé; now I see her personality matches it.

Oguhebe’s parents relocated to Jackson from Lagos, Nigeria, several years before she was born. Growing up in a large household (she has three sisters and two brothers), Oguhebe recalls fond childhood memories of when she first developed an interest in music.

“As a child, our whole family sang. ... I loved melodies and harmonizing,” Oguhebe says. Along with her involvement in classes and extracurricular activities at Murrah High School, Oguhebe is a vocal student at Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex. With training, she has learned to sing in six languages: Italian, German, French, Spanish, English, and her native language, Igbo.

Oguhebe puts her talent to use as she competes in pageants, which she began doing after serving as the “little sister” of a close friend during one of her pageants.

“I loved being at the back and helping out,” Oguhebe says.

Since then, she has competed in the Hinds County Junior Miss, New Outstanding Teen, Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen and Riverbend’s Outstanding Teen, which she won. Ironically, Oguhebe reveals that her favorite thing about pageants are the competitors, debunking all stereo types of drama-queen rivalries.

“I love the girls. ... They all want to see you do well,” Oguhebe says, laughing at my surprise. “You can be around the girls and not fight.”

But pageants aren’t enough for Oguhebe. Her long list of extra-curricular activities include advanced choir, performing in the award-winning Murrah Madrigals, track, cross country, band, the French club and serving as class secretary.

After she graduates, Oguhebe plans to attend Indiana State University or Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. “I definitely want to get into the medical field,” she says. “I want to be a neuroscientist.”

Despite her many accomplishments, Oguhebe remains humble and reserved. As we finish our meeting, Oguhebe spots a Bible and responds with a smile.

“There are so many things that have happened in my life,” she says. “I have to thank the Lord for all that.”

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