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By Samson Baranga Unlike normal pageants, Miss Tourism 2014 is looking for that beautiful ambassador who is also knowledgeable when it comes to all things nature and wildlife. This year the contestants have been tasked to make an impact on conservation to promote tourism. A lot of emphasis has been put on domestic tourism and they spent part of the boot camp at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), getting up close and personal with creatures that would normally make them squeal with trepidation. Not only were the girls trained in snake-handling - pulling off a photo-shoot while holding the python - they also got to experience domestic tourism at its best by being put in shared accommodation different from last year's banda arrangement. This year, organisers - the Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities ministry - decided to get contestants according to tourism clusters. Each of the clusters, namely, Tooro, Ankole, Bunyoro, Buganda, Teso, Busoga, Eastern, Kigezi and Northern, all have attractions and hence the need for tourism ambassadors. "The girls are being trained to become tourism ambassadors whether they win or not," said Belinda Atim, the UWEC public relations officer. "Miss Tourism is not just for fame and glamour; the main purpose is to get people who can spearhead conservation issues in the country." She also revealed that the contestants were well-versed with conservation issues and how they can play a part in boosting tourism. James Musinguzi the executive director UWEC said Miss Tourism is aiming at putting a human face to the cause of domestic tourism. "We think by identifying tourism with a human face, we are able to send the message to a typical Ugandan on the ground that tourism is your business as well." The boot camp Being in the boot camp is all work with little time to play. The girls wake up at 5am and, depending on the day's programme, they may be occupied the whole day. The morning kicks off with exercise and dance routine (cheza) headed by In Motion dance studio's Andrew Mawejje. This goes on for a gruelling three hours. After freshening up, it is time to rejuvenate with breakfast at 8am. Then it is time for more training in etiquette or catwalk or sitting in for a presentation from a guest speaker. Depending on the day, the girls have photo shoots, appearances at events or long hours in a recording studio to come up with a theme song. All this happens under the watchful eye of Sarah Nyamwenge, who is in charge of turning ordinary girls into the tourism queens at the end of the contest. She expects more from them this year, given the fact that the programme is more organized and she has had more time with them. The grand finale for Miss Tourism 2014 is slated for October 17 at Serena hotel.
July 2013
AFRICAN ROYALS AT THE MISS AFRICA USA
PAGEANT 2013
The Miss Africa USA Pageant Organization appreciates the efforts made by all the African Royals who graced the pageant this year. Special thanks to King Peggy of Ghana who was accompanied by the Author of the book 'KING PEGGY' Mrs Eleonor Herman and her husband.
Special thanks to the USA North West Fon's
Council, an organization of Cameroonian Royals mostly based in
Maryland and the Washington DC metropolitan area. They are
called Fons and they resident in the US but are able to control
their constituencies in Cameroon and take care of their Royal
obligations from the United States.
MISS UNIVERSE 2011-2012
LEILA LOPES
TO
BE HONORED
AT THE MISS AFRICA USA PAGEANT
JUNE 29 2013
Miss Africa USA Pageant Organization is
proud to announce : Miss Leila Lopes, Miss Universe
2011-2012 will receive An Award in Recognition of her
Successful Reign as Miss Universe. Miss Leila in responding to
our invitation says she is very humbled and very excited at the
same time. She has confirmed her attendance and will join us
June 29 2013 to receive her Award in Person and to cheer all
finalists of the the Miss Africa USA Pageant.
Miss Leila who is from Angola made the entire world proud when
she was pronounced Miss Universe 2011. The African Community
was doubly proud of her, making history as the 2nd Black African
Girl to win the Pageant in its 66 year history. Leila has
become not only an Iconic household name in the world of beauty
and Pageantry but most importantly she is a role model for
young women today. Her achievements and good heart continues to
inspire women all over the world. It is for this reason that
Miss Africa USA Pageant will honor her. We do so on behalf of
the African Community in The United States of America and all
friends of Africa. Lets come together and say a big Thank you to
Leila Lopes.
During her reign as Miss Universe, Leila was able to tour 5
African Countries, giving love to under privileged children. We
invite you to watch her below on tour in Africa.
First
Ever Ms. Africa International Pageant Draws
Thousands The Nation's
Capitol Becomes Center Stage as Eighteen African
Countries Celebrate History and
Culture A panel of six
celebrities including Rockmond Dunbar (who plays
Kenny Chadway in the popular Showtime series Soul
Food) judged women from Liberia,Nigeria, Eritrea,
Angola, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Gambia, Ghana,
Senegal, Guinea, DRC Congo, Rwanda, Burundi,
Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone in a colorful
display of cultural heritage. Nigerian candidate
Adenike Taiwo Ariyo was crowned Miss Africa
International 2004 after a stiff competition.
Each contestant
introduced herself stating an issue confronting
Africa that she would be advocating. Miss
Democratic Republic of Congo International stole
the hearts of her listeners as she told of her
parents dying of HIV/AIDS when she was only
thirteen. Unlikely to escape attention was the
absence of swimsuits, a traditional essential in
other pageants, setting Miss Africa International
apart from other pageants around the world.
Instead, the contestants performed a unity dance
wearing halters and sarongs of rich, colorful
fabrics hand woven in Africa. Pageant organizers
and contestants were advised by elders. Outstanding
contestants received awards such as the Maya
Angelou Congeniality Award and the Mamadi Diane
Industrial Award. The honorary chairlady of the
event, Her Excellency Mme Aude Ndayizeye, First
Lady of Burundi, was unable to attend the
pageant. During
her reign as
Miss Africa International, Ariyo will serve as
international spokesperson for hunger and HIV/AIDS
in Africa. The other queens will also promote
issues relevant to Africa. Dunbar expressed
her hope that the pageant, to be held annually,
will inspire a renewed interest in a continent
greatly affected by war, hunger, disease and
poverty, problems wreaking havoc in many of the
countries represented(Miss Democratic Republic of
Congo lost both parents to HIV/AIDS at age 13; Miss
Rwanda International is an orphan of the Rwandan
genocide; Liberia has been in turmoil for over a
decade.) Produced by Mokoli
Productions, Inc., the Miss Africa International
Pageant is a springboard for the Miss Africa
Diaspora Pageant, open to all women of African
ancestry regardless of citizenship. The Miss Africa
International Organization sponsors charity
organizations that benefit Africa. The next Miss
Africa International Pageant will be held on
November 13, 2004. For more information visit
www.missafricainternational.com or contact:
Busola Grillo
240-603-6720 Toutou Abraha 202-415-2641 Ellen Dunbar
240-462-4645 or 301-603-9262 |
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WASHINGTON,
D.C: Thousands cheered as women from eighteen
African countries showcased their talents, brains,
beauty and culture in the inaugural Miss Africa
International Pageant on November 1, 2003 at the
Washington Convention Center in D.C. Pageant
founder and executive producer Ellen Dunbar
declared the program a success, stating that the
pageant's purpose of promoting the African culture
had been served.