Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson: September 2014

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I've been really busy but happy, thanks be to God! Due to my busy schedule, I've been behind on a couple blogs but I plan to make it up starting NOW! On August 30th, I attended the 2014 edition of the Annual Miss Tanzania USA pageant to serve as a judge. The inaugural edition was last year, in which I also served as a judge, and it felt great returning as a judge this year in support of this wonderful African diaspora pageant. The Second Annual Miss Tanzania USA was hosted by the always entertaining Gil Ingles, who is always a blast to watch in action.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Returning Judges:
Designer and Actor Mr. Peter S. Walden and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

It was exciting to be serving as a judge at the pageant with the always stylish Mr. Peter S. Walden (wearing his own Peter S. Walden Collection suit); he's the designer of the Perfect Gentleman by PSW suit collection. Both of us were judges last year, so it felt good to see a familiar face in the judges panel.

Red Carpet Host Ms. Veronique Blay and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Congolese Singer/Dancer Patience Ibembo

The entertainment for the night was the talented and beautiful, Ms. Patience Ibembo. With her beautiful voice and dancing skills, it was a pleasure watching her perform multiple times during the night. Patience is a singer and dancer from Congo, and a former dancer for artist Koffi Olomide. She's a lovely lady, and so sweet! She's definitely a crowd pleaser, and had the audience very much involved in all her performances. I kept whispering to my fellow judge, Peter S. Walden, that if I wasn't on judge duty, I'd have been on stage dancing with her. Make sure you check out her music online and grab a copy of this amazing African woman's work!

East and West African Queens:
Miss Tanzania USA 2014-2015 Aycha Cheyo and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

CONGRATULATIONS to the beautiful and very talented Miss Aysha Cheyo, who was crowned Miss Tanzania USA 2014-2015 and one of the United State's new African diaspora queens. This lady has such a beautiful voice, and during her talent performance I was so moved by her voice that I had my eyes closed just to enjoy her voice and focus on its beauty. Her big bright smile captivated the audience, and her countenance warmed our hearts. She performed throughout the night with grace and intellect. I wish her all the best during her time of service as reigning queen. Congratulations to Miss Tanzania USA 2014 First Runner-Up Kupewa Mushala and Miss Tanzania USA 2014 Second Runner-Up Jessica Kalemera.

Miss Tanzania USA 2014 Miss Congeniality Grace Mtingi demonstrating the skills of a construction worker during talent presentation

One of the memorable moments for me at this event happened during the talent presentation. Before I get into this, let's rewind a bit. I'm currently a final year student in Mining and Minerals Engineering and attaining a minor in Women's Studies Leadership at Virginia Tech. My personal platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA is advocating for the recruitment and retention of girls and women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. With all that said, let's come back to this event. During the talent presentation, one of the Miss Tanzania USA 2014 contestants came out in a hard hat, reflector vest, boots, etc. and I got so excited inside of me (it took a lot out of me not to start jumping in joy and tears when she got on stage). This contestant, Ms. Grace Mtingi, mentioned that she's a construction worker and would be demonstrating one of her tasks and its purpose in this job. This is something I have never seen done before for talent and was so excited to see something so unconventional and unique in a pageant. My goal in life is to acknowledge and promote the diversity of girls'/women's passions, and that women truly can do anything. Girls and women can have beauty AND brains! Watching Grace on stage was watching my platform of advocating for girls/women in STEM on stage, my dream was coming true. Grace was crowned Miss Tanzania USA 2014 Miss Congeniality, and observing her performance on stage and the volume of screams from folks in the audience for her, I'm sure she's very deserving of this title.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Miss Tanzania USA Class of 2014. These ladies did a phenomenal job on stage, and presented themselves with confidence and poise, and of course African elegance. They are all remarkable, and I hope they will continue to live out their dreams, maintain their passions, and be women of substance in their various communities. Once again, congratulations my African queens.

Miss Tanzania USA 2014 Court and Judges

AFRICAN QUEENS
Representing Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone

Overall, I had a wonderful time at the event. Additionally, the food was very delicious, the foodie in me was very pleased with the service and the content of my plate. Thank you for feeding me, Tanzania! Special thanks to Ma Winny Casey (owner of the Miss Tanzania USA pageant), Ms. Diana Michieka, Ms. Pendo, Gil Ingles, and the entire Miss Tanzania USA production team. You've created a wonderful organization that showcases the beauty and culture, as well as the many things the people of Tanzania can offer. Thank you to the Tanzanian community in the United States for taking me with open arms and promoting African unity. Tanzania Oye! Sierra Leone Oye! AFRICA OYE!!!

My dress for this event was designed by my lovely grandmother, Mrs. Bola Johnson, in Salone. Fambul den na Salone. Are you looking a seamstress that can make the best afrikana designs and many more in Freetown? Well worry no more and visit Leslen Ventures Tailoring and Boutique at 58 Dundas Street. Mrs. Bola Johnson sabi so en ple an wit matirial, in kayn no de. For example, she created my afrikana look for this event and several other outfits I've worn during my Miss Sierra Leone USA appearances. She's not only the best designer in Sierra Leone, but my lovely and amazing grandma. For more information, contact +232 77763001 or leslenventures@yahoo.com. Tell her I sent you!!!

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

This world was not created piecemeal. Africa was born no later and no earlier than any other geographical area on this globe. Africans, no more and no less than other men, possess all human attributes, talents and deficiencies, virtues and faults. Haile Selassie

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

Photo credit:
Life Depicted Productions

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Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing fabulous, thanks be to God! In this post, I'll like to highlight the African queens that will be participating in the upcoming Miss Grand International Pageant. The first Miss Grand International pageant was held last year, and the current titleholder is Janelee Chaparro from Puerto Rico who won the title on November 19, 2013.

Miss Grand International 2013 Janelee Chaparro from Puerto Rico

In an effort to contribute to peace among all, the Miss Grand International beauty pageant adopted a social cause, known as “Stop the War," and MGI delegates work to deliver this message internationally and in their home countries. Over the past year, I have observed this pageant via social media; being one of the newest events in pageantry, they have done very well in promoting their brand and showing their relevance, as well as the fact that the reigning queen has served beautifully. The second Annual Miss Grand International 2014 pageant is set to take place on October 7th in Bangkok, Thailand.

Miss Grand International 2013 visiting students in South Sudan

Miss Grand International 2013 with some children while in the Philippines

The Republic of Sierra Leone has not yet been represented at this pageant. Meet the women representing their respective countries from the continent of Africa. All the best to these African queens!!!

ALGERIA

Miss Grand Algeria 2014 Soumia Benmebrouk