Miss Sierra Leone USA Walks In Ivy Lounge Salon Grand Opening 2014 Runway Show

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I've been doing great, thanks be to God! Last Saturday, I participated in the Ivy Lounge Unisex Salon & Spa Grand Opening VIP/Media Preview event as an Ivy hair and runway model. I had such a great time for the couple days spent doing photo shoots, rehearsals, creating new friendships, and many more with my fellow models and the Ivy Lounge hairstylists and event production team.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Fact: Ivy Lounge Unisex Salon and Spa is the newest luxury beauty spa and salon situated in the hub of Hyattsville Art District in Maryland servicing clients of distinct tastes and lifestyles. They offer a range of signature spa and salon services to meet the exquisite needs of their clientele. They offer their clients complimentary consultations with one of their master stylists and beauty consultants.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

The grand opening of Ivy Lounge Salon was on Saturday, January 18th but the day before, all the Ivy models had to be there to get hair done, photo shoot for the website, rehearsals, etc. This unisex salon has amazing stylists and I loved that my hair was well taken care of with minimum hair products and no harsh chemicals; being that I wear my hair in its natural state and very curly, things like that are very important to me. I loved that I didn't need to add artificial hair or do anything drastic to it for the show, and I got to rock my own afro throughout the whole weekend. The three photos below are behind-the-scenes shots of my photo shoot with DioBurto Photography. I can't wait to see the final products!

Behind the scenes:
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson in Ivy Lounge Salon photo shoot

Behind the scenes:
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson in Ivy Lounge Salon photo shoot

Behind the scenes:
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson in Ivy Lounge Salon photo shoot

Getting hair done by natural hairstylist Jessica
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

All shades of GREEN
MUA: Shara Hurd
Model: Ruby B. Johnson

All shades of GREEN
Haistylist: Jessica L.
MUA: Shara Hurd
Model: Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and make-up artist Shara Hurd

Model: Ruby B. Johnson
MUA: Shara Hurd
Hairstylist: Jessica L.

MUA: Shara Hurd
Hairstylist: Jessica L.
Model: Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and hairstylist Jessica L.

During the show, some models were handpicked to pose as statues. I was one of the models picked, and I had fun with my fellow model. During this time, the sun was shining bright in our eyes, but it turned out to be great lighting for the picture and it looks like we did great as a team!

Teamwork!
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Ivy model

Teamwork!
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Ivy model

Catwalk like Naomi CampbellMiss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

The grand opening was hosted by Guy Lambert of WPGC 95.5 and Candice Stewart of CBS Big Brother Season 15 and former Miss Louisiana USA 2005. The food, drinks, desserts, and souvenirs were really amazing, and the overall production was fantastic. This event planner for this grand opening was DASH Coordinating and Marketing, LLC.

Ivy Lounge Salon and Spa hairstylists with Alicia Holiday (Salon leader) and Dr. Seyi Fadayomi (Salon owner)

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 and Ivy model Ruby B. Johnson

Ivy Models:
National American Miss Maryland 2013 Lyz Denizard and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

National American Miss titleholders and Miss Sierra Leone USA:
NAM New York 2013 Talia Stewart,
NAM Maryland 2013 Lyz Denizard,
NAM 2013 Courtney Jamison, and
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

NAM New York 2013 Talia Stewart,
Miss United States 2013 Candiace Dillard,
Miss District of Columbia USA 2014 Ciera Nicole Butts,
Candice Stewart, Miss Louisiana USA 2005,
Dr. Seyi Fadayomi, owner of Ivy Lounge Salon and Spa
NAM Maryland 2013 Lyz Denizard,
National American Miss 2013 Courtney Jamison

Founder/CEO of Dash Coordinating and Marketing Jeanette Hordge and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time. - Marian Wright Edelman

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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Photo credits:

Ivy Lounge Salon and Spa

DioBurto Photography

Save The Date: Miss Sierra Leone USA Pageant 2014

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing great and my life has been full of love and adventures lately, thanks be to God. I am very excited to share this news with all of you about the upcoming Miss Sierra Leone USA 2014 Pageant. The Miss Sierra Leone USA 2014 Pageant activities and final event will be held August 15-17, 2014 live in New York City, New York. So save the dates!!!

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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Miss Sierra Leone USA Attends 2013 Fullah Progressive Union's Fundraising Dance

Hello world!!!

Happy new year. I hope you and yours are doing well, and I hope your 2014 is off to a great start. I'm doing fantastic and loving every moment of the past couple weeks surrounded with family, friends, and festivities; thanks be to God. On New Year's Eve, I attended Fullah Progressive Union's Annual Fundraising Dance.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

The Fullah Progressive Union organization was formed in 1967 in Sierra Leone, and founded in 1972 in the United States; the motto of FPU is "Fottal-Eh-Pottal." The purpose of FPU is to celebrate the culture of the Fullahs/Fulanis/Peuls/Fulbeh in West, Central, and North Africa regions such as the Fullahs of Sierra Leone, Mali, Cameroon, Nigeria, Phottal Fi Mantal (Guinea), Harlepular (Senegal and Mauritania), Sagatta Group (Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger), etc.

Mr. Mohamed Lamrana Bah (President of FPU) and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Current President of FPU, Mr. Mohamed Lamrana Bah, is also a member of the Miss Sierra Leone in District of Columbia, Inc. organization. This elegant and classy event was hosted by the beautiful Ms. Khadija Beatty Jalloh. The always smiling and kind Vice President of FPU Mrs. Asiatu Jalloh Kamara was a gracious hostess at the program, and I'm grateful for her service.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Mrs. Asiatu Jalloh Kamara (Vice President of FPU)

During the program, I sat next to Mrs. Isata Sillah. Mrs. Sillah attended the event with her husband, and this very nice lady was great company throughout the evening. We shared laughs and dances together; she spoke proudly of her Alma mater Hatford Secondary School for Girls in Moyamba city, Moyamba District.

Mrs. Isata Sillah and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Some members of Fullah Progressive Union-USA

During the program, FPU recognized its outstanding members and presented awards to some of the members for their phenomenal contribution to the organization and its projects. I had the honor of presenting one of the awards.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson presenting an award with Fullah Progressive Union members

To get folks sweating and in a more jolly mood, there was a performance by superstar singer, dancer, and overall entertainer Shady Baby. This program was a night of celebrating culture and heritage, great music, delicious food with drinks, and a lot of dancing with beautiful women and handsome men. It was a great night, and I am honored to have been part of this great organization's event. I hope they raised a lot of money because FPU is truly doing great work for its community and a great example for diaspora organizations abroad.

Singer and dancer Shady Baby and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

This year, my time of service ends and I'll be passing on the title of Miss Sierra Leone USA. Looking forward to my last months as reigning queen before I crown the new 2014 queen!!!

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. - Marcus Garvey

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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