The Miss Africa USA Management team proudly presents the African Queen in America Miss Fatoumata (Fifi) Souma who will reign as Miss Africa USA 2010 - 2011. Miss Fifi was crowned at the beautiful Montgomery College Performing Arts Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Saturday July 24 2010.
Fifi Souma is from the Republic of Guinea Conakry, 21 yrs old, speaks fluent French and English, Full time student at Montgomery College with a major in Communication. Fifi's platform is to raise awareness and fight against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), promote Education of the Girl Child in Guinea and to continue as
a Goodwill Ambassador volunteering for America by teaming up
with charitable organizations across the United States to serve needy communities. According to the Judges, Fifi had a lot of poise and gleamed with confidence on stage, looked comfortable, is very talented and stood out overall.
The Pageant weekend kicked off with an elaborate VIP banquet at the University of Maryland Marriott Conference Center while the pageant show took place at Montgomery College Performing Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD. Both events were successful and sold out beyond capacity and we do apologize to those who were turned away because the PAC had no more room for anymore attendees.
In attendance at the Miss Africa events, were African Ambassadors to the United States,
local Elected officials, University Professors, sponsors, special guests, friends and family and the 32 finalists who made it to the grand finals this year, representing different African countries in the United States of America.
The event was chaired by Valerie Ervin, Vice President of Montgomery County Council who presented a proclamation to the Miss Africa USA Pageant and the African Women's Development Foundation, declaring July 22 -25-2010 as Miss Africa USA Pageant days in Montgomery County, she was present with her Aide Mr. Joseph Eyong who also played a very supportive role in this pageant and directed protocol very well to ensure all dignitaries were taken care of. Mr. Eyong was also instrumental in showcasing Montgomery County to the delegates and their family and friends which is what the pageant also aims to attain by highlighting the host county to the rest of the world. Montgomery County was certainly very welcoming to over 1000 guests who visited from other states, from Africa and Canada as well.
It was also great to have in the house representatives from the Federal Reserves, thanks to Mr. Wayne Pacine, Senior Inter-agency Project Analyst from the office of Staff Director, Governor of Federal Reserve System in Washington DC.
Also in attendance were the Pageant Patrons all the way from Clayton County Georgia, Honorable Mike Glanton and his beautiful wife Pearla Glanton who have relentlessly supported the pageant over the years. Mrs Glanton presented special gift baskets for all finalists and volunteers.
The pageant this year was hosted by Dr. Aretha Makia, a former beauty Queen from Cameroon who also received the Woman of Valor Award for being an inspiration to young women. She was supported by the following MCs Dr. Emma Osong from Cameroon and Miss Nunu Wako from Ethiopia.
The pageant this year was judged by some of the most respectable leaders and role models in the community and we are grateful for their time and commitment and for giving us a new Queen. They all agreed it was a tough pageant to judge this year and out of the 32 brilliant young ladies, only one had to go home with the Crown.
Read the complete coverage of the Miss Africa USA 2010 Beauty Pageant and an exclusive interview with the winner Ms. Fifi Souma on our upcoming SEP/OCT 2010 issue.
