Written by Pa Ousman Joof and Amie Dibba

Saturday November 3^rd 2007 was the 3^rd annual Miss Africa USA Pageant Grand Finale which was held at the Ashok International Center in Atlanta-Georgia. Organized by Ms Lady Kate Ngeuma "THE AFRICAN ALL STAR" from Cameroon, the pageant attracted 17 national finalists from all over Africa. Our Celebrity Corner team delightedly covered the entire program.  

This weekend long event, which attracted about 1000 people, was a unifying and relaxing one with series of activities such as run ways, discussion sessions, performances by various African artists, awards presentation and a regular party mood. 

The contestants arrived in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon and were received by the Miss Africa USA production team. Unlike the previous years, each of the 20 participating countries had one delegate this year. Gambia, Ghana, sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea, Democratic republic of Congo,  South Africa, Tanzania, Sudan, Senegal, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi were all well represented by young talented ladies. 

This 3 day event started on Friday morning with a visit to the King Center on Auburn Avenue in downtown Atlanta where the contestants had a press conference and a talk with MS ANGELA MOORE (Communications Chair- Democratic Party of Georgia, Former Candidate for Secretary of State - Georgia 2006).  

By 11.00pm on Friday night, these elegant looking ladies were escorted in a limousine to Queens International Lounge/club (one of the best African clubs in Atlanta) on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard where a welcome party was held on their behalf. This event was attended by the Pageant Production team, contestants, all guests, families and supporters of the contestants from all over the United States.        

Saturday November 3^rd was the pageant proper. By 7.30 pm, the parking lot of the Ashok International Center was parked full with cars on every floor. It was a night of entertainment, relaxation and fun in the form of speeches, run ways, cultural displays and performances by various upcoming US base African artists such as Bamboo from Kenya, Julian Abey from Cameroon, Jr Salone from Sierra Leone, and Amie Dibba from The Gambia.    

The ladies took center stage around 9.00pm showcasing their talent, beauty; culture and intelligence. They were judged on the following categories by a team of professional judges in different fields:  

1.      Introduction of Self: Confidence, poise, grace, presence, oratory

     Skills, platform.

2.      Talent: Self expression through a showcase of talent, originality,

     presentation, entertaining, creativity and artistic skill, cultural expression.

3.      Physical Beauty and Fitness: beauty of the face and body, personal grooming, grace, elegance.

4.      African Fashion: model with style, grace, elegance, culture, traditional identity and confidence.

Top 5 Finalists

   

On-Stage Interview:

Confidence, poise, eloquence, knowledgeable, intelligence and charisma.   

After a wonderful display of their skills, 5 contestants were selected by the judges for the on-stage interview while the rest were eliminated. MC Dr. Emelia Orubele involved and excited the crowd with a lot of rhetorical questions as to who the winner was between the 2 finalists (Nigerian & Sierra Leonean delegates). By the end of the night, the final results were announced as follows:

Miss Mfonobong Essiet (Nigeria) was declared as the 2007 Miss Africa USA winner as well as Miss Culture.  

Miss Elizabeth Mbalu Conteh (Seirra Leone) was crowned the 1^st runner up, Miss Natural beauty, the viewer's choice-online voting

Miss Yordanos Gidey (Eritrea) was crowned as the 2^nd runner up as well as Miss Photogenic

Miss Rachel Temu (Tanzania) was crowned as the 3^rd runner up

Miss Caren Koukou (Liberia) was crowned as the 4^th runner up,

Miss Coumba Diop (Senegal) was crowned as Miss Talent

Miss Soretti Hubena (Ethiopia) was crowned as Miss Congeniality

Miss Rachel Marete (Kenya) was crowned as Miss Spokes Model

Miss Osungu Osong (Cameroon) was crowned as Miss Super Model

Miss Jewel Thompson (Ghana) was crowned with a Humanitarian Award

Taking the center stage shortly before the final results were announced, Lady Kate Ngeuma, the Founder and Executive Producer of Miss Africa USA Pageant thank her sponsors Western Union, Moneygram, BBC World Service, Bling Queen International, A3 Telesud, Bill Board Models, Estella Couture,  Xalima.com, Gambian Talents Promotion, Afrokicks, Global Woman Magazine,    Afro Caribbean Entertainment Network Television, The Immigrant Magazine, African Parties, Global Woman Magazine  and everyone that contributed towards the success of the pageant. She assured that the pageant is growing and getting better year by year and urged all and sundry to come out and support her vision.

The pageant was indeed a great success as it got bigger and better as mentioned by Lady Kate.

Even though the Gambia and Senegal did not win, we were well represented by a high delegation led by Gambian Talents Promotion and Xalima.com both of whom were fully involved in the preparation, promotion and production of the whole pageant. Throughout the pageant, the Senegambians as usual were peaceful, united and supportive of the 2 candidates of Gambia and Senegal. Thus we served as role models to the other nations. On behalf of Xalima and Gambian Talents, we thank all the Senegambians who attended the pageant and encourage those that could not attend to come next time.

For more information about the pageant, you may log onto www.missafricaunitedstates.com . You may also log into www.xalima.com or www.gambiantalents.com to see some of the pictures from the pageant.