Over the years of its existence, the talent segment of the Miss Africa USA competition has been a permanent feature of the pageant which generates a lot of excitement from the audience but most importantly offers the pageant delegates an opportunity to explore their own inborn talent as well.  A lot of people have talents that they don’t know about and if given the opportunity they would excel.  The pageant aims to bring out the best in every participant and the talent competition is one of those areas that requires a lot of creativity and originality.

Pictured above is Miss Ghana representative Priscilla Boateng who finished the pageant in 3rd Place as 2nd Princess to the Queen.  Her entrance on stage for the talent segment was certainly very mind blowing. She presented as an African Queen, carried on a bench by two Mandingo men as you can see from the pictures.

She engaged in spoken word about the beauty of Africa. This special presentation never left the minds of many who witness her act, how original and thoughtful it was. Her performance certainly won the hearts of the Judges.

Pictured above is the reigning Queen, Fifi Soumah on stage with a Poem titled ‘The Girl in Me’.  Elegantly dressed and gracing the stage in confidence she told told the story of ‘The Girl In Me’ a poem she wrote herself about the challenges of growing up as a little girl in a troubled world. You had to be there to feel the impact of this act, she received great applause for her act finished off with a call for women to never give up the fight and never give up hope.

Spoken word was certainly very popular with the Judges this year, as most of the top 5 winners actually performed spoken word for their talent.  Singing was also popular with some of the delegates. Pictured above is Mameisia Kabia representing Sierra Leone, who placed in the top 15 of the competition. Dressed in the most gorgeous while evening gown, she stunned the audience with her beautiful voice.

Meet Natasha Beckley, the first runner up, also known as the Deputy Miss Africa USA performing Spoken word, a poem she had also written capturing the past of the Black  powerful Black woman in America today.  She is an acclaimed poet and has a great collection of poems in her portfolio.  This young lady is certainly very gifted in this field of poetry and will certainly go places.

And to conclude this post on the Miss Africa USA Talent competition, we end with the winner of the Spokes Model Award, Miss Gnima Diop representing the beautiful country of Senegal.  Gnima clearly stood out in her ability to master her spoken word, speaking with conviction, passion and confidence, a performance which earned her the title of Miss Africa USA Spokes Model, a title she is now using to advance her career as a motivational speaker. I believe she will do very well indeed as a public speaker.

Generally this year Spoken Word certainly did it for the Judges as well as thrilled the audience. Bear in mind that there were other beautiful acts such as singing and dancing and more.  The Delegates did their very best to stick to African themes and cultures while being very entertaining as well.

If you missed the show this year, you can order the video and watch it in the comfort of your own home at $10 each.  Simply send an email to info@missafricaunitedstates.com to place your order.

Join the Miss Africa USA 2010 Semi finalists, the Black Dolls of Atlanta and Club Queens International for a very special Valentine’s Day Ball.

The Dress Code is  Red and White, you may have All Red or All White.

For More Information and to purchase tickets please visit

www.missafricaunitedstates.com

Miss Nyasah Zimucha got to work soon after being crowned Miss Africa USA in November 2008.  She barely had a break from the pageant event, responding quickly to an invitation by the Diamond Empowerment Fund a non-profit organization founded by Russell Simmons. DEF hosts charity events during the year to benefit communities in Africa where Diamond is being extracted. It is a way of giving back to these communities.  Miss Africa USA, Nyasha Zimucha was a perfect guest to attend this event since DEF is working in South Africa.  The event Hosts were Russell Simmons, LL Cool J, and David Blaine  Co-Chairs Nicola Breytenbach-Steiner and Benjamin Steiner.

Special Guest Nyasha Zimucha and Host Russell Simmons at the DEF charity event Nov. 2009 in NYC.

Special Guests included:

Music by DJ Cassidy with special guest O’Neal McKnight
Special Guest Miss Africa USA Nyasha Zimucha
African Drumming by Talu Green
Special guests included international supermodel Liya Kebede, Tatiana Ali,
Mario, Elise Neal, Andre Harrell, R&B singer Joe, and former NFL player and
ESPN commentator Ray Crockett, among others.

Nyasha also performed a special Song by her hero Late Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba who passed away 3 days after the Miss Africa USA Pageant.

Miss Nyasha Zimucha sings to the audience at the DEF charity event.

Miss Cameroon Danielle Mingana Fochive gave it a good shot at the pageant, walking off as the most talented in the pageant. She won a complete photoshoot with Harold Greaves Photography.  Her talent was actually a traditional dance from the Ndian division of  Cameroon.

Danielle is pictured above post-pageant.

Pageant night 2008, the beautiful Miss Africa USA, Nyasha Zimucha looks stunning in this beautiful emsemble (South African Flag Dress).  Nyasha spoke passionately of her platform: A Global Citizen Campaign to raise awareness about Xenophobia, attacks on foreigners in her homeland, South Africa. Nyasha.

Nyasha pictured above performing her talent during the pageant competition. She danced to some great South African Rythms such as FREEDOM IS COMING TOMORROW.

Nyasha obviously prepared very hard for the pageant and I guess her hard work paid off as she was Crowned Miss Africa USA Pageant 2008.

In all simplicity and modesty, Estella Couture wraps her mind in her creations  as one of Africa’s most sort after Designers not only in the USA but also around the world.  Estella Couture met Lady Kate Njeuma, the Executive Producer of Miss Africa USA back in 2007 at the Miss Africa Preliminaries in Silver Spring Maryland.  Estella was a judge at the preliminaries after which networking between the two followed.  Estella was invited as one of the top designers for the Miss Africa USA Pageant in 2007. She designed for Miss Liberia and Miss Sierra Leone who were among the top 5 winners of the pageant with no doubt that their outfits certainly earned some well deserved points.

The following year Estella was again invited, this time as the Designer for the pageant and her creative mind got to work, producing the Miss Africa USA Signature flag out fits. Each delegate had an outfit made to reflect the flags of their countries. It was awesome, all the vibrant African colors were lighting up the stage at the 2008 pageant.  It certainly was not an easy task to have accomplished either.

Estella was fully on board with the Miss Africa USA Pageant with the most beautiful and glamorous designs for the Evenning Wear Segment. Great African fashion with Western theme. Estella Couture once againg performed beyond expectations. 

 Lady Kate Njeuma is proud to congratulate Estella Couture for her dynamism and creativity, placing African Couture on the agenda in the global fashion industry.  From the Miss Africa USA Pageant we say thank you Estella and May God Grant you more inspirations.

Estella Couture can be reached via her website

www.estellacouture.com

Pageant Production Manager Kyle Haggerty briefs 2008 pageant delegates

First day at the pageant always seems very nerve racking for the delegates no matter how relax the management try to make it. I guess it is a little tense meeting your competitors but amazingly, shortly after introductions and a little mix and mingle, everyone tends to relax and the smiles get broader and broader. 

2008 pageant kicked off with a Common Meal with the delegates upon arrival, registration and checking in to the hotel, answering any questions, collection of talent cds or dvds and going through the dos and don’ts.  2008 registration was pretty smooth as most delegates arrived in a timely manner and got settled in pretty fast.

Assiting with registration were Ms Carmen Greaves,  Jennifer Achu,  and Jessica Emeh.  Briefings by Production manager Kyle Haggerty, while Mr. Harold Greaves the Miss Africa USA organization Manager conducts all matters regarding contracts and other legal matters.

Miss Africa USA at the Thomasville Festival celebrating Black History Month

THOMASVILLE — This weekend marks the second annual Black Heritage Festival, sponsored by Jack Hadley History Memorabilia Inc. and the Douglass High School Alumni Association Inc.

The events are scheduled to start Friday and conclude on Sunday. The three-day event will take place at the Frederick Douglass Complex, located at 214 Alexander St. Some guests expected for the event include Pastor Brian McKinney, the Tallahassee Buffalo Soldier Motorcycle Club and Miss Africa USA 2007-08 Mfonobong Essiet, who will particiapte in Saturday’s ribbon cutting.

Lauren Dixon, professionally known as L-Boogie, will be taking over some hosting duties for the festival. A young and successful black female, she realizes the importance of such a celebration.

“First, as an African-American woman and a historical black colleges and universities graduate, I am always anxious to get involved, and also I am always happy to come to Thomasville to meet my radio listeners who don’t necessarily make that trip to Tallahassee,” she said.

Originally from the Miami area, she moved to Tallahassee to pursue a journalism degree at Florida A&M University. She graduated in the spring of 2006 and landed a job as an on-air personality at Blazin 102.3 FM in Tallahassee. Such education and presence is what landed the gig as host to Saturday’s events.

to read more on this please click here

Lady Kate Njeuma, Executive Producer of Miss Africa USA Pageant Meets President Pierre Nkurunziza in Atlanta

Lady Kate Njeuma was honored to meet the President of Burundi His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza when he visited Georgia in 2008. Lady Kate grabbed the opportunity to praise the efforts of Miss Burundi USA Marie Kiyungu who represented Burundi so well in the previous pageant. Lady Kate handed  a copy of the pageant DVD to His Excellency and also expressed interest in collaborating with the National Miss Burundi Pageant. The President was very happy and encouraged all present to visit Burundi soon.

MEETING WITH HIS EXCELLENCY OKAFOR AT THE NIGERIAN CONSULATE IN ATLANTA

Miss Mfonobong Essiet was very happy to meet with the Nigerian Consul, his Excellency Okafor at the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta. The Nigerian Diplomatic mission supported the 2007 pageant which Miss Mfonobong Essiet was declared the winner.