Queen Fifi Soumah during Fashion competition

African Fashion, as beautiful and vibrant as it is, never gets the kind of exposure and media highlight that it deserves. Well the Miss Africa USA Pageant has embraced African Fashion and is committed to showcasing African Couture, working with Afro-centric designers to bring out the best of African Fashion on the pageant runway. Each year a number of well renowned African designers are invited to showcase their fashion lines on the pageant runway and the 2010 competition saw the best yet to grace the pageant.  Award winning designers such as Frank Osodi from Nigeria, Stella Atal from Uganda, Vera Ochia from Kenya and Akouavi Slater from Togo were all in the House, ready to take control.

African Fashion entails more than just the dress you wear, it has a lot to do with the accessories and so much more. Pictured above is Miss Twamma Nambili representing Namibia. You’ve got to love her hair piece, the Porcupine head dress, very spiky and elegant.  A beautiful smile is certainly a necessary complement for this headpiece, making it even more beautiful.  Kudos to Miss Twamma for carrying this whole ensemble with such elegance and grace.

I don’t know about you but this dress being modeled by Miss Nessie Abdulai representing Sierra Leone makes me go WOW, it is beautifully put together and well accessorized, combined with Miss Nessie’s charming smile, you’ve got to love it.  I certainly wouldn’t mind having this dress in my wardrobe for that special occasion.

Who says only renowned designers can design African Fashion? Well, Meet Miss Hilda Mauya representing Kenya on the runway.  This African Queen had a go at designing her own outfits for the pageant and of course, her pageant dresses were breath taking indeed.  She discovered her passion in designing unique styles and she is on the run with it.  Miss Hilda’s style won her the Miss Africa USA Super Model with Style Award. She is one designer we should all be looking out for.

When you think of African Fashion, Kente clothe will immediately come to mind for most people. Yes the Kente is always present on the Miss Africa USA Runway, thanks to the delegates from Ghana who always go that extra length to bring out the Best of Kente.  Pictured above is Miss Agnes Ntow representing Ghana, showcasing Kente Fashion on the Miss Africa USA Runway.  Miss Agnes won the Fashion Award 2010.

An African outfit designed by Akouavi Slater is modeled by Miss Roseline Amusu who represented Nigeria in the pageant.

Pictured above : Miss Africa USA management team members pose with Fashion designers who graced the pageant this year. L_R:  Miss Linda Arrey Pageant Manager, Vera Ochia, Frank Osodi, Lady Kate Njeuma Pageant Founder and CEO, Stella Atal, Akouavi Slater and Kyle Haggerty Pageant Production Manager.

Miss Africa USA Pageant will continue to promote African Fashion the best we can in collaboration with African Designers.  We Africans and Friends of Africa should do our best to patronize African Fashion and showcase on the global stage.

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.

Miss Ghana USA 2008, Krystle Simpson pictured above in true elegance, wearing the Kente design. The Kente cloth is well known in the world as one of the signature clothes  from Africa, very colorful and hand crafted the Kente certainly brings out the African in anyone who wears it. Thank you Ghana for creating such a beautiful piece of cloth called the Kente.

(OPENPRESS) October 27, 2008 — With much of the nation’s attention duly focused on finances and how the upcoming elections will affect the country’s future, movie producer Marlon D’wayne, aka Marlon Campbell is responding by serving families and communities throughout the country. Marlon D’wayne announced his dual role as Humanitarian Ambassador to the Millenia Hope Foundation and Good Will Ambassador for the African Women’s Development Foundation, official producers of the Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant. On Saturday November 1, 2008 Marlon D’wayne and Miss Alaska 1984, Maryline Blackburn will host The 4th Annual Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant, at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, Georgia.

President and CEO of the African Women’s Development, and also the executive producer of The 4th Annual Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant is Lady Kate Njeuma. The Miss Africa USA Pageant is open to delegates from all 53 countries that make up the continent of Africa, the motherland. Pageant delegates are simply ordinary women of African descent living in America and facing every day challenges of growing up in two different cultures. Each year a strong team of volunteers and supporters of the pageant from the community commit time and effort to make the pageant a great success. This years Annual Miss Africa USA Pageant proceeds will benefit women and children in Education, Healthcare and children’s Rights in Africa and the USA.

As Ambassador to The Millenia Hope Foundation, and Good Will Ambassador to African Women’s Foundation, Marlon D’wayne will assist the private foundation with a global mission of supporting indigenous people who have contracted tropical infectious diseases, in particular, AIDS, and Malaria. Millenia Hope Foundation addresses the distresses of undeveloped countries. Presently, Africa.

“I am in complete agreement with the process of self-actualization of the African people to determine their own destiny. The goals of MHF, is to first raise funds for the needy, the impoverished, the dehydrated and the sick of Africa. Secondly, provide medical and educational help, medicine, medical supplies, water, pumps and filtration systems, educational supplies and services. Thirdly, teach them how to become self sustaining in this beautiful world of ours. The mission of Millenia Hope is so exact for humanity and perfectly suits the objectives of the UN’s Millenia Development goals. The team at Millenia Hope is committed to research and development to deliver on global medical needs and to bring hope through healthcare solutions. I am honored to be a part of both the MHP and ADF.” Marlon D’wayne, states.

Marlon D’wayne is currently gearing up for his highly anticipated major motion picture film Oblivious. With an impressive cast including actor Bokeem Woodbine, Micheal B. Jordan, Lauren Barrett, Eric Martinez, Sahara Garey, the film is scheduled for a summer 2009 release.
ABOUT: Millenia Hope Foundation (MHF) is a non-for-profit organization established in 2004. Through national and international collaboration and partnerships, MHF acts as a catalyst for realizing the full potential of therapeutic healing for various tropical diseases such as Malaria. MHF, now has access to products that may greatly lessen the burden and eliminate an enormous toll on human health, well being and the economies of various southern continents.

ABOUT:
The Annual Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant is founded on the basis of advancing the cause for women of African descent. The Pageant which was previously produced by the Shrine of Africa LLC is a charity event for the community, uniting Africans and friends of Africa in celebrating the African cultural heritage in this great nation of The United States of America. The Miss Africa USA Pageant is now managed and produced by African Women’s Development Foundation Inc (AWDF Inc), a 501c-3-nonprofit organization headquartered in the State of Georgia. The Mission of the AWDF is based on giving back to humanity especially in Africa where need cannot be over emphasized.
For media inquiries please contact A Lister Public Relations 678-615-2016 or email Alisters@aol.com

Digol Deng, with Miss Sudan Left; Nathalie and Right; Miss Gambia

Mr. Digol joins Miss Africa Delegates at the Party. I love the costume Nathalie, cute…..

MISS AFRICA USA MFONOBONG ESSIET AT THE GROUNDS OF CLAYTON COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ACCOMPANIED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE GLANTON, MISS CARMEN GREAVES AND DR. ANITA LLOYD

By Curt Yeomans

cyeomans@news-daily.com

CLAYTON DAILY NEWS PAPER

The Clayton County Performing Arts Center (PAC) received a royal visit on Wednesday when Mfonobong Essiet, the reigning Miss Africa USA, dropped by to announce the facility will be the site of the next pageant on Nov. 1.

The competition began four years ago as a way, in the United States, to highlight African culture and issues facing the continent. The contestants are natives of African countries, who are currently living in the U.S. The theme for this year’s pageant is “USA Support for Africa.”

Each contestant is required to show off the culture of her native country, during the competition. For the talent portion, each participant has to showcase something from her homeland, such as a native song or traditional dance.

“The people of Clayton County are going to have an amazing time, and they will get an opportunity to discover various African cultures,” said Essiet, 22, a native of Nigeria, who is currently working on a master’s degree in biomedical sciences at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla.

State Rep. Mike Glanton (D-Jonesboro) played an instrumental role in getting pageant organizers to pick the PAC for this year’s event. A mutual friend introduced Glanton to First Lady Kate Njeuma, the founder and chief executive officer of the pageant, last fall and he received an invitation to attend the pageant, which was held at the Ashok International Center in Norcross.

He was awestruck by the way African culture was on display during the pageant. It was hosted by models, Digol Deng and Noella Coursaris, and featured performances by several African musicians. He said he believed the growing number of Africans who are immigrating to Clayton County, particularly the northeastern section of the county, could benefit from having the pageant come to Jonesboro.

“It will let members of the community discover the culture and traditions of some of their neighbors,” Glanton said.

The representative came back to Jonesboro and initiated a dialogue between Njeuma and PAC administrator, Anita Lloyd. The first lady visited the PAC to check out the facility and decided it would be a good place to hold the pageant.

While Glanton said the pageant will provide an educational experience for the county, he is also hopeful it will inspire female students who attend Clayton County schools. “What really struck me about the contestants is that, while they are very beautiful and very intelligent, when you begin to hear their biographies … You realize they are very accomplished young ladies as well,” he said.

Essiet has selected medicine as the cause she wants to promote during her reign. She is working to raise awareness in America about the plight of AIDS patients in several African nations, as well as the medical issues which must be overcome to provide health care in many parts of the continent. She hopes it will help encourage stronger assistance from people in the United States.

“I want people to see they [doctors] don’t have simple tools, such as latex gloves, sheets for the mattresses or even incubators,” Essiet said. “The basic needs are not being met and that’s what drew me to the field. Without our health, we wouldn’t exist.”

Essiet said any natives of Africa living in the Clayton County area who want to be a contestant in the 2008 pageant can participate in the preliminaries, which will be held on June 14 at 4 p.m., at Georgia State University’s Urban Life Auditorium, 33 Gilmer St., Atlanta. There is a $50 registration fee and interested females can contact pageant organizers at (404) 921-2451.

Lloyd said she and other PAC officials are thrilled to host the pageant, because the facility frequently hosts events that promote cultural diversity, whether those cultures be from India, China or various countries in Africa. She also said the PAC will play host to the Miss Georgia, Miss Teen Georgia, Mrs. Georgia and Miss Alabama pageants in 2009 and 2010.

“From theater agents, to producers, to promoters, people in Georgia are finding out about this jewel we have here,” Lloyd said.

WELCOME TO NIGERIA

Soon after being crowned, the Queen Miss Mfonobong Essiet who hails from the beautiful country of Nigeria, embarked on a journey to her homeland of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria.  She was received by Royalty and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.  Miss Mfonobong delivered her goodwill message to the leaders in Akwa Ibom, her goal is to donate medical supplies to hospitals and clinics and donate books for children in schools.

CHILDREN'S DANCE PERFORMANCE WELCOMING MISS AFRICA MFORNOBONG ESSIET

MEETING THE GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE NIGERIA, MISS AFRICA'S HOMELAND

MISS MFONOBONG MEETS TRADITIONAL RULER IN NIGERIA

MISS MFONOBONG MEETS THE PARAMOUNT CHIEF IN HER HOMELAND NIGERIA

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.

MISS LIBERIA USA 3RD RUNNER UP

While Miss Mbalu Conteh grabbed the 1st Runner up to become the Deputy Miss Africa USA,  Miss Eritrea picked up 2nd Runner up, Miss Liberia was 3rd runner up and the 4th runner up was Miss Rachel Temu.

Rachel Temu 4th runner up

Jewel Nana Thompson: Miss Ghana USA 2007

Jewel Nana Thompson won the Humanitarian Award for 2007, she had a great humanitarian platform which she is determined to see through. Miss Jewel is partnering with the Ghanaian Community leaders and also the African Women’s Development Foundation to put together a Medical Mission in Ghana. Miss Jewel is leading this project that has taken some time to get off the ground but I am glad to say it will soon become a reality when a container of Medical supplies and equipment will be delivered to a hospital in Kumasi Ghana in 2009. The pageant is supporting Jewel in her endeavors.