The Gambia, last week played host to the 2007 Miss Black USA; the tiny West African country welcomed 36 contestants who arrived from the United States to slug it out at the prestigious Kairaba Beach and Senegambia Beach hotels between May30 and June 1.

The contestants were treated to a Press conference on Friday 25^th, 2007 at the Kairaba Beach Hotel which was attended by the Gambian President Yayah Jammeh. US Ambassador to The Gambia Joseph D. Stafford used the occasion to congratulate President Jammeh on his 42^nd birthday and for hosting the Miss Black USA Beauty Pageant. Ambassador Stafford said the event has the potential to strengthen the ties between the people of both countries, as well as consolidate the relationship between the government of the United States and The Gambia. He then thanked all stakeholders for associating with the event in order to make it a success. Ambassador Stafford assured all the contestants of wonderful stay in The Gambia.

Kerin Arrington, founder of Miss Black USA, gave a brief history of the pageant, noting that it started on the 6^th June 1987 in the united state of America. Responding to questions from the press, Ms Arrington said the theme of the event is now “Royal journey back to the Roots”. She then added that this is not only for beauty competition but also a scholarship pageant which is so important in the sense that most of the contestants are students and some are doing their doctorate degrees at the moment in the USA. Following is a blow-by-blow account of the competition:

 The 30^th of May 2007 saw the preliminary of the Miss Black USA Scholarship pageant partly organised at the Jaama Hall of the Kairaba Beach Hotel in The Gambia. This started with a showcase of Fitness of some 36 Crème de la crème of Black Beauty in the USA with all contestants putting on sports gears and later evening gowns which they paraded on stage for the judges and spectators to see and make their assessment. This led  followed Questions and Answers from the producer of the Miss Black USA Sophia Songhai who herself was onetime Beauty Queen in the USA.

 The Vice President of The Gambia, Haja Isatou Njie-Saidy awas the Guest of Honour at the semi-finals held on Thursday May 31^st. The Master of Ceremony Mr George Gomez introduced Karin Arrington, the Founder of the Miss Black USA, who then later opened the events by making a short speech on the history of the Miss USA and said that the winner will receive the sum of $20,000 and a University Scholarship. The producer of the Miss Black USA 2007 pageants Miss Sophie Songhai was also introduced to audience and she later took her place as the Mistress of Ceremony.

The Judges were Mr Baye Matarr Drammeh, Jeff Johnson, Juka Fatou Jabang and Nacee Marenah.

The first part of the contest started with a five minutes self-introduction by each 36 pageants on the podium one after the other to explain their Platform for this year's pageant. This was followed by Musical performance of an African American singer, songwriter from New Jersey Jeff Murell who gave a nice song of “Love and Black Woman” in between intervals of the program.

This second part of the contest started with Talent Explosion show exported with a difference to Africa. Every contestant took the podium to show her own professionalism in Entertainment Exponent as their performances ranging from Piano Playing, Ballet Dancing, Cabaret Dancing, Salsa Dancing, Melo-Drama, Jokes – Story telling, Samba Dancing, Poems, African Cultural Dance, African Folklore, Slave Songs, Slave Dance, Poetic Drama, Emotional Poetry, Indian African Dance, Singing, Saxophone Jazz Performance, Emotional Slave Performing Comedy, Camporia African-Brazilian, Martial Art Performance of Katas etc.

The third part of the contest started with Questions and Answers punctuated with body movement with a powerful cat walk and pose on the podium to the answer the to the questions which ranged from socio-economic, politics to African-American relations.

The semi final was concluded with all the contestants paraded on stage.

The day that all the contestants and their families, relatives, friends and well wishers were waiting for was the finals on Friday June 1^st which was held at the Senegambia Beach Hotel in The Gambia, the moment of the events was when all the 36contestants made their first appearance and paraded on stage with their African dresses of wax cotton sewn in an African style fashion called “Docket and Lappa”.

They were respectively introduced to the podium by both the Master of ceremony Michael Colyah, profound Actor and Comedian and Mistress of Ceremony Deya Smith-Starks a Former  Miss USA 1994.The contestants  performed a marvellous Group Dance, after which both MC's announced the final sixteen contestants.

The sixteen finalists were as follows: Miss IOWA (Ventra V.Boykin), Miss ALABAMA (Arnecia Bradley), Miss WASHINGTON (Jacqueine Echols), Miss NORTH CAROLINA (Rachel D. Wilson), Miss NEW JERSEY (Chenoa Greene), Miss WISCONSON (Toni Martin), Miss VIRGINIA (Takiyah Nur Amin), Miss TENNESSI (Kalilah Allen-Harris), Miss MISSISSIPPI (LaTasha R. Seliby), Miss KENTUCKI (Andrea J. Reynolds), Miss OKLAHOMA (Carlisha Williams), Miss NEW JERSEY (Chenoa Greene), Miss CALIFONIA (Adonica Shaw), Miss CUNECTICUT (Ayesha K. Faines), Miss VIRGIN ISLAND (Cleantha Samuel) and Miss GEORGIA (Heneicia Manning).

Each of the pageants fielded questions; during the interval Jeff Murell $of New Jersey, a singer, songwriter and producer, perform a song ‘Hear my Call'. The Gambia International Cultural Dance Troupe also performed a cultural song and dance called ‘Welcome back home Miss Black USA'.

The second appearance was the show of fitness with the contestants dressed in  sportswear showing their actual figure of their body; they danced to a song by Destiny's Child called ‘Survival'. This was followed by a showcase of Talent Explosion by each of the contestants, talent performances ranging from Poem, Saxophonist, Piano playing, Singing and dancing of Salsa, Ballet, Samba, Camporia Martial Art performance.

The final appearance was the evening gown dresses worn by all the contestants as they reappeared on stage one after the other. This is the most significant part of the pageant show, which showed the synchronized body movement, catwalk according to the music in the background.

In conclusion, the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageantry 2007 finals nine contestants were announced as follows:

1.         Miss CUNECTICUT, Ayesha K. Faines (20yrs) – Yale University,

Major: African and International Studies,

Talent: Classical Ballet,

Platform: Believing and Achieving through Arts.

She was awarded the best pageant in Performing Arts.

2.         Miss MARYLAND, Monique Armstrong (25yrs) – Ohio State University; Morgan State University, Summer Cum Laude,

Major: Master of Arts in Journalism/Communications; BSc Telecommunications, Broadcasting Journalism,

Talent: Griot (African Storyteller)

Platform: Arts Form Education Addressing the Needs of Underperforming School and Students by infusing Creative and Performing Arts Programming. She was awarded a plaque for the best for Community Service.

 

3.         Miss KENTUCKY, Andrea J. Reynolds (24yrs) – University of Louisville; Murray State University,

Major: Master of Music Performance and Piano Pedagogy; Bachelor of Music Education, Piano and Voice,

Talent: Piano,

Platform: Vision of Hope; Aiding and Encouraging our Youth to Go Above and Beyond any Stumbling Block or Limitation Set Before Them, Enabling Them to Reach Their Full Potential.

She was awarded a plaque for the best Academic Achievement.

4.         Miss OKLAHOMA, Carlisha Williams (22yrs) – University of Oklahoma,

Major: Entrepreneurship and venture management, African American Studies,

Talent: Monologue,

Platform: Empowerment: Enhancing Political and Cultural Awareness in Urban Communities.

She was awarded a plaque for the Presidential Award.

 The five finalists fielded some questions amidst a thunderous applause from the audience.

The final five of the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant 2007 were announced as follows:

1.         Miss KENTUCKI – ANDREA .J. Reynolds - 4^th Runner up

Andrea J. Reynolds study at the University of Louisville and Murray State University respectfully. She has a Master of Music Performance and Piano Pedagogy and a Bachelor of Music Education, Piano and Voice. She specialises in  Piano and her expertise is the Vision of Hope and Aiding and Encouraging the Youth to Go Above and Beyond any Stumbling Block or Limitation Set Before Them and Enabling Them to Reach Their Full Potential.

2.         Miss GEORGIA – Heneicia Manning - 3^rd Runner up

Heneicia manning study at the Alabama A&M University and has a Master in Microbiology, BSc in Biology, Magna Cum Laude. She specialises in Comedy Monologue and her expertise is time to Make a Change; Health Eating, Healthy Living for a Healthy you.

3.         Miss VIRGIN ISLANDS – Cleantha Samuel - 2^nd Runner up

Cleantha Samuel attended Texas A&M University and Elizabeth City State University respectively. She has a Master of Business Administration; BSc in Accounting and Marine Environmental Science. She specialises in Dramatic Monologue and Dance Interpretation. Her expertise is Ladyship through Leadership, Advancing Beyond the F.I.G.H.T. (Financial Independence Growth and Health Today).

4.         Miss NEW JERSY – Chenoa Greene - 1st Runner up

Chenoa Greene attended and studies Communication and Journalism at the University of the Arts and she graduated May 2007. Her talent is Karate and her platform is to promote the Self-Esteem and Welfare of Young Women and Girls.

5.         Miss TENNESSEE – Kalilah Allen-Harris - Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant 2007.

Kalilah Allen-Harris attended Meharry Medical College and the School of Medicine; the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Cum Laude and where she graduated in Medicine; BSc in Business Administration. Her talent is Jazz and her expertise is Juvenile Diabetes Research.

In conclusion, the Former Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant 2006, Cecillia Marie Deen decorated Kalilah Allen-Harris, Miss TENNESSEE (pictured above) as the new Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant 2007.