Miss Sierra Leone USA Judges The 2013 Miss Tanzania USA Pageant

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I've been doing great and very busy, but overall I'm thankful to the Almighty. This past Saturday, I served as one of the judges at the First Annual Miss Tanzania USA 2013 Pageant. It was an evening of celebrating Tanzanian culture and women, good music from artists around the continent. delicious food, and generally showcasing the beauty of the African continent. Congratulations to Ma Winney Cassey, designer and creator of Mitindo Nite and founder of the Miss Tanzania USA pageant, and her team for a successful event. The event was hosted by Mrs. Tumaini Kaisi-Katule and Mr. H. Gil Ingles.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson
Dress by Joanna Arku of Arku Fashion

According to the Miss TZUSA website, "The pageant goal is to help young Tanzanians girls in the U.S achieve and perform to their full potential via a successful education and personal growth thus laying a strong foundation for them as future productive members and leaders of the Society." The crowned Miss Tanzania USA will compete at the Miss Africa USA 2014 pageant next year, representing her nation.

Ma Winny Casey (founder of Miss Tanzania USA pageant) and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Her Excellency Liberata Mulamula (Ambassador of Tanzania to the United States) and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

At the event, I had the honor of meeting the Ambassador of Tanzania to the United States, Her Excellency Liberata Mulamula. She is a very down-to-earth and fun woman. This was the first time I have seen an Ambssador enter a room and took the time to walk around to greet everyone and shake hands with everyone without any formality. That's an admirable trait for an ambassador and a great individual, in my opinion. Besides being so kind, she's also a great dancer and she showed us some of her African dance moves during the show. She is truly a phenomenal woman and I even tweeted about her while I was at the event of how much I adored her. During the show, I even whispered to my fellow judge, Peter S. Walden, that now I want to become an ambassador because of her.

Mrs. Tumaini Kaisi-Katule (event hostess), Mr. Peter S. Walden (pageant judge, actor, designer, and creator of Perfect Gentleman by PSW) and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Singer Adele-Clarice, Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, and singer/actor Koby Maxwell

Others in attendance were: Her Excellency Oliver Wonekha, Ambassador of Uganda to the United States; His Excellency Martin Andjaba, Ambassador of Namibia to the United States; Honorable Iddi Sandaly, President of the Tanzanian Community; Honorable Leticia M. Nyerere, Member of the Parliament of Tanzania; and many more! There were musical performances by Adele-Clarice (from Cameroon), Betty G. (from Ethiopia), Naomi Achu (from Cameroon), and Koby Maxwell (from Ghana).

Sarah E. Hillware (former America's Miss District of Columbia 2012, and Executive director of Girls Health Ed.), and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Classic American Woman 2010 Elaine Roecklein, Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, Ms. United Nation International Ambassador 2014 Susan Hinkle, and Mr. Peter S. Walden

The Judges
Standing for the singing of the national anthems of Tanzania and USA

The Contestants (left to right):
Faith Kashaa, Sham Manka, Aeesha Kamara, Doreen Rumaya, Namala Elias, Helena Nyerere, Julia Nyerere, Alice Mhina, and Joy Kalemera.
Click on photo to enlarge

The Judges:
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson, Mr. Peter S. Walden, and Miss Sarah E. Hillware

Being a judge at this event was a tough decision and I'm sure my fellow judges would agree, because all the ladies were phenomenal! From their presentations in each segment of the competition, I could tell they have worked hard and prepared for their time on that stage. As an African woman, I am extremely proud of each and every one of them, even though they made my job tough that evening. Bravo to the Miss Tanzania USA committee, production team, and the amazing contestants.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Congratulations to the winners of the pageant, and I wish them all the best in their year of service as Miss Tanzania USA representatives. Miss Julia Nyerere (political science student) emerged as the 4th runner-up and Miss Namala Elias (nursing/pre-medical student) was the 3rd runner-up to Miss Tanzania USA 2013. Miss Faith Kashaa (clinical laboratory technology student) from Maryland won the title of Miss Tanzania USA 2nd runner-up, and Miss Doreen Rumaya (kinesiology pre-medical student) from Pennsylvania won the title of Miss Tanzania USA 1st runner-up. The beautiful and talented Miss Joy Kalemera from New Jersey won the grand title of Miss Tanzania USA 2013-2014. Miss Tanzania USA Joy Kalemera currently works as a chemical engineer and in her spare time enjoys drawing, painting, and playing volleyball. Since I was crowned Miss Sierra Leone USA, I have been advocating for SHERO as well as the recruitment and retention of girls and women in STEM; so as a STEM student and mining engineer, it makes me so proud to see my fellow STEM sisters that are taking over pageantry!

Her Excellency Ambassador Liberata Mulamula crowning Miss Tanzania USA 2013 Joy Kalemera

Beauty Queens and Engineers
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Miss Tanzania USA 2013-2014 Joy Kalemera

Ambassador Mulamula with Miss Tanzania USA contestants, crowned winners, and Ma Winny Casey

Left to right:
Miss Sarah E. Hillware, Mr. Peter S. Walden, Miss Tanzania USA 2013-2014 Joy Kalemera, Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014, and Lady Kate Atabong (CEO of Miss Africa USA pageant)

Overall, this was a great production and once again congrats to all the winners and the Miss Tanzania USA production team. Thank you for having me as a judge and giving me the opportunity to help choose your newest ambassador. Africa, OYE!!!

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

Photos credit:

Life Depicted Photography

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