Hello world!!!
I hope you and yours are doing well. I have been doing fantastic, thanks be to God! During Women's History Month, this March, I have done many interviews and involved in conversations regarding the status and endeavors of women in Sierra Leone, United States, and worldwide. As you may know, I am the Founder/CEO of When You Believe Foundation, Inc., my platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA is advocating for SHERO and advocating for the recruitment and retention of girls and women in STEM, and overall I am very passionate about women's issues. Below are some of my activities during the month of March advocating for girls and women.
BSA Presents: Women's Month Kick-Off
On March 3rd, I was a speaker at Virginia Tech's Black Student Alliance's annual women's month event. At BSA Presents: Women's Month Kick-Off event, I talked about the history of When You Believe Foundation, why I decided to start this organization, and our past and present events and projects. Besides talking about my favorite organization, I talked about the importance of women's empowerment, my advocacy for the recruitment and retention of girls and women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, women's body image and beauty ideals, and many more. Special thanks to Virginia Tech's BSA for extending the invitation and giving me a platform to talk to the women of Virginia Tech for two consecutive years, as well as providing a space for a When You Believe Foundation display.
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| Ruby B. Johnson, Founder/CEO of When You Believe Foundation, Inc. and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Speaking at VT BSA's women's event |
"Diaspora Focus" on Star Focus Radio
On March 6th, I was one of the guests on Star Radio's Diaspora Focus. This program is broadcast live from Freetown at 12am (Sierra Leone time) on 103.5FM and online. I was invited to talk about my activities in supporting women and girls, as well as women's empowerment in Sierra Leone. I had a great time on the show with my fellow commentators: Ms. Khadi Mansaray (Women's Rights Activist and Humanitarian) from the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone's Honorable Mustapha Bai Attila (deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs). I talked about women's empowerment in Sierra Leone, education of the girl child, women's land rights, women in politics, women in STEM, constitution reform regarding women, laws that protect women, international women's day (March 8th) and many more. I shared some personal stories about growing in Sierra Leone, experience with the Sierra Leone education system, the work of our women in the past and present, etc. Thank you for having me on your program, Star Radio. Also, special thanks to Amadu Lamrana Bah (producer) and Emmanuel Stafford (host), and I look forward to being part of another program again.
Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)
CPAC was not a speaking event for me but I got to meet some phenomenal women in public office serving and/or have ambitions of serving their communities in the political sector. In my days of attendance I met some women I have viewed as role models and others I became acquainted with that are in all works of life. Some of them include: Erika Harold, Miss America 2003, Attorney, and current republican candidate for the 13th Congressional District seat in the state of Illinois; Glo Smith, candidate running for United States Congress for the 5th district in the state of Florida; Crystal Wright of Conservative Black Chick; Carly Fiorina, former business executive and former California Republican candidate for the United States Senate, and many more!
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Ms. Glo Smith, current U.S. Congress candidate (R-FL) |
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| Attorney Erika Harold, Miss America 2003 and current U.S. Congress candidate (R-IL) |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Ms. Carly Fiorina |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 and Ms. Crystal Wright |
On March 11th, I was one of the guests on PageantLIVE. PageantLIVE is the only interactive web-based show where up to eight guests from around the United States and the world come together live to discuss all aspects of the pageant and scholarship industry. The theme for this specific show was Pageantry and Empowerment. Hosted by Stephanie McGrane, I was interviewed alongside Mrs. Eastern States International 2014 Amber Wandtke. During the program, I talked about my mother and women in my family being my role models, how I use my title as Miss Sierra Leone USA to empower girls and women in the United States and Sierra Leone, what achievements I hope to see women get in the future, and many more. Watch the full interview here.
We all fight over what the label 'feminism' means but for me it's about empowerment. It's not about being more powerful than men - it's about having equal rights with protection, support, justice. It's about very basic things. It's not a badge like a fashion item. - Annie Lennox
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