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.

PROCLAMATION

Whereas: Founded in 2005, the African Women’s Development Foundation USA is a network of dynamic African Women across the United States of America who work together to help communities in need in Africa and the United States; and

Whereas, the Foundation organizes community programs that embrace cultural diversity, carries out medical missions, as well as provides mentorship programs and internships for college graduates across the United States: and

Whereas, the Miss Africa USA Pageant, now in its 6th year, is one of the Foundation’s community programs designed to offer educational opportunities to talented and ambitious young women who have set high standards for themselves: and

Whereas, the pageant focuses on building confidence and empowering young women to give back to under-served communities in Africa and the United States;

Whereas, the Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant has awarded up to #20,000 in scholarships in the last five years and has empowered young women to serve their communities as goodwill ambassadors, serve as mentors for young school age children and act as advocates for the advancement of women and children’s rights; and

Whereas, the Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant will be held in Montgomery County July 22 – 25, 2010, where 32 young women will compete for the Crown:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the County Council of Montgomery County, Maryland hereby proclaims  July 22-25, 2010 MISS AFRICA USA SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT DAYS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Signed  7th day of July 2010 by Nancy Floreen, Council President.
This Proclamation was presented to Lady Kate Njeuma  by the Vice President of Montgomery County Council Valerie Ervin.  Lady Kate is the Founder of the pageant and there to receive the Proclamation with her was Miss Linda Arrey-Mbi the Pageant Coordinator.  Ms Valerie Ervin was accompanied by her Aide Mr. Joseph Eyong.  The Proclamation was presented in front of a live audience during the Miss Africa USA pageant show on July 24 2010 at the Montgomery College Performing Arts Center where the Queen was also crowned later that night.

The Miss Africa USA Pageant management proudly welcomes to the stage Miss Chinwe Enu, who plans to thrill attendees with her beautiful and angelic voice and talent. Chinwe Enu will perform the African Anthem at the kick off of the Miss Africa USA Pageant.

Young soprano Chinwe Enu continues to garner acclaim for her beautiful voice and captivating stage presence. She was recently hailed by the Washington City Paper for her “soaring operatic voice.” In June 2007 she made her African debut in a recital of arias and art song with the MUSON Center Orchestra at the MUSON Center in Lagos, Nigeria. Following the concert, she was praised by Nigerian press for her “almost flawless sound” and “superior talent.” In 2006, she appeared as Saffi in Strauss’s Der Zigeunerbaron in concert in Graz, Austria with the American Institute of Musical Studies Festival Orchestra where she was praised for her “glorious sound.” In 2008, Ms. Enu was commended for being an inspiration to young African women and was awarded the African Jewel Award. Her 2009 engagements included a July concert of Faure’s La Bonne Chanson, with chamber orchestra, at the InterHarmony Music Festival in San Francisco, California, and a November recital of arias and art song in Maryland. In 2010, she performed the role of Geraldine in Barber’s A Hand of Bridge at the University of Maryland. She has also performed roles in Italy and in Salzburg, Austria. Ms. Enu balances her passionate career as a singer with her training as an attorney. She received a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center and is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and the state of California. Ms. Enu studies voice with renowned Metropolitan Opera lyric soprano Carmen Balthrop. She is currently pursuing her music studies at the University of Maryland School of Music where she has received academic honors and was awarded the Charlotte W. Newcombe Scholarship.

The Management of Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant is happy to announce plans for its First VIP Banquet and Awards Ceremony.  The Miss Africa USA pageant empowers young and dynamic African women in the United States of America as leaders and Goodwill Ambassadors for Africa and America.  Each Delegate takes on an achievable micro project to benefit a community in need in Africa or in America.

In this light therefore the pageant management deems it fit to acknowledge the work of other great humanitarians in the community at large as an inspiration for all finalists of the pageant.  In particular, the pageant will highlight the humanitarian achievements of past Beauty Queens as well as the achievements of those humanitarians who have worked to improve the lives of the needy in Africa.   The pageant is currently taking nominations for The Miss Africa USA Woman of Valor Awards and Humanitarian Awards.  Please email recommendations to info@missafricaunitedstates.com

The VIP Banquet is Exclusively a Red Carpet Event

The VIP Banquet will serve as the First formal introduction of all Miss Africa USA 2010 Delegates who will address the guests and present their projects before a Panel of Distinct Judges, African Ambassadors in Washington DC, Sponsors, the media  and Special Guests.

The University of Maryland Marriott Conference Center will host the 2010 VIP Banquet as follows:

Date:   Friday  July 23  2010

Time:  7pm  -  11pm

Tickets: $100 donation

Dress Code:  Formal or African Traditional

Our Very own Red Carpet PRO  Miss Jesica Emeh will be on the Red Carpet and Ready to Welcome you.

This event is expected to sell out so do well to purchase your tickets on time by visiting the Events page

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 Uganda Imat Akelo Opio is certainly an ambitious and dynamic young African woman with a powerful command of the stage. Of course she is not new to the stage because she is a trained actress and model, working on projects around the World, as far away as Australia. Miss Imat who told the Audience that she received her education in New York has not forgotten her roots. She loves her homeland Uganda and spoke very passionately about the plight of the children in Northern Uganda who are being used as child slaves and soldiers.  Her speach certainly drew the tears out of my eyes and I felt the emotions from others in the audience too. She was also moved to tears by her own words and thoughts for the women who work hard everyday with little or no resources to provide shelter for the children of Nothern Uganda. She went on to praise all African Women who are working hard to care for their families as well as the female warriors of days gone by.  Miss Uganda was the 4th Runner up at the Pageant. She is an actress so look out on the big screen for her someday. We wish her the very best.

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.

FASHION MODELS DIGOL DENG AND NOELLA COURSARIS

For the first time in the Miss Africa USA Pageant, African Fashion Super Models were invited to host the Miss Africa USA Pageant. Digol and Noella made great pageant hosts and kept the show going through the night.  Noella is a top fashion model based in New York City, she is also a great humanitarian promoting |Education of the Girl Child.  Digol is also a top fashion model based in Georgia and he runs a non-profit organization benefiting children in his homeland Sudan.