MISS AFRICA USA PAGEANT PROMOTES AFRICAN FASHION

Queen Fifi Soumah during Fashion competition

African Fashion, as beautiful and vibrant as it is, never gets the kind of exposure and media highlight that it deserves. Well the Miss Africa USA Pageant has embraced African Fashion and is committed to showcasing African Couture, working with Afro-centric designers to bring out the best of African Fashion on the pageant runway. Each year a number of well renowned African designers are invited to showcase their fashion lines on the pageant runway and the 2010 competition saw the best yet to grace the pageant.  Award winning designers such as Frank Osodi from Nigeria, Stella Atal from Uganda, Vera Ochia from Kenya and Akouavi Slater from Togo were all in the House, ready to take control.

African Fashion entails more than just the dress you wear, it has a lot to do with the accessories and so much more. Pictured above is Miss Twamma Nambili representing Namibia. You’ve got to love her hair piece, the Porcupine head dress, very spiky and elegant.  A beautiful smile is certainly a necessary complement for this headpiece, making it even more beautiful.  Kudos to Miss Twamma for carrying this whole ensemble with such elegance and grace.

I don’t know about you but this dress being modeled by Miss Nessie Abdulai representing Sierra Leone makes me go WOW, it is beautifully put together and well accessorized, combined with Miss Nessie’s charming smile, you’ve got to love it.  I certainly wouldn’t mind having this dress in my wardrobe for that special occasion.

Who says only renowned designers can design African Fashion? Well, Meet Miss Hilda Mauya representing Kenya on the runway.  This African Queen had a go at designing her own outfits for the pageant and of course, her pageant dresses were breath taking indeed.  She discovered her passion in designing unique styles and she is on the run with it.  Miss Hilda’s style won her the Miss Africa USA Super Model with Style Award. She is one designer we should all be looking out for.

When you think of African Fashion, Kente clothe will immediately come to mind for most people. Yes the Kente is always present on the Miss Africa USA Runway, thanks to the delegates from Ghana who always go that extra length to bring out the Best of Kente.  Pictured above is Miss Agnes Ntow representing Ghana, showcasing Kente Fashion on the Miss Africa USA Runway.  Miss Agnes won the Fashion Award 2010.

An African outfit designed by Akouavi Slater is modeled by Miss Roseline Amusu who represented Nigeria in the pageant.

Pictured above : Miss Africa USA management team members pose with Fashion designers who graced the pageant this year. L_R:  Miss Linda Arrey Pageant Manager, Vera Ochia, Frank Osodi, Lady Kate Njeuma Pageant Founder and CEO, Stella Atal, Akouavi Slater and Kyle Haggerty Pageant Production Manager.

Miss Africa USA Pageant will continue to promote African Fashion the best we can in collaboration with African Designers.  We Africans and Friends of Africa should do our best to patronize African Fashion and showcase on the global stage.

TOP AFRICAN FASHION DESIGNERS SET TO DAZZLE UP THE MISS AFRICA USA 2010 PAGEANT RUNWAY

Its that time of the year again when the eyes are on the Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant, searching for that next Queen for the coveted crown.  Previous pageants have benefited from the support of African Fashion Designers, showcasing African Couture at its best but this year is different as the pageant has attracted some top names and award winners from the motherland and diaspora.  There is great excitement in the air and fans are looking forward to some breathtaking designs on the pageant Runway.

The Miss Africa USA Pageant Management is proud to welcome the following Designers from Africa and diaspora:

MUSTAFA HASSANALI is based in Tanzania, well respected when it comes to African Couture, has won several awards for his creativity and Style. Mustafa has also worked with Supermodels like Naomi Campbell.  Mustafa has confirmed his participation in the 2010 Miss Africa USA Pageant to be held in Maryland on July 24 2010 at the Takoma Park Performing Arts Center in Silver Spring MD.

Mustafa Hassanali will be joining us from Dar Es Salam in Tazania.

The Miss Africa USA Pageant is very proud to welcome on board the renowned Fashion Designer from Nigeria Frank Osodi.  Frank is also well respected in the African Fashion arena around the world not only in Nigeria where he is based.  His inspiration and style is recognized internationally and has participated in the New York Fashion Week held annually in New York City. Frank will graze the Miss Africa Runway with some of his breathtaking designs.

Frank Osodi Couture

Coming all the way from the Pearl of Africa – Uganda, is the beautiful and inspirational designer Stella Atal who will be joining us at the upcoming Miss Africa USA Pageant slated for July 24  2010 in Maryland.  Stella Atal is an international Designer whose influence on Runways span across the African Continent and beyond.  Stella is also an award winning Fashion Designer and we are excited to be able to work with her. She promises to storm the Runway taking charge of the ‘Parade of Nations’ Segment of the competition. Stella Atal is know for Originality and Style

Coming all the way from the beautiful country of Kenya is the beautiful and talented Vera Vee Ochia, who has made a name in the Kenyan Fashion Industry and is going International. She recently participated in the Swahili Fashion week with the most beautiful designs. We are very proud to welcome Vera Vee Ochia who will bring some Kenyan inspiration to the Miss Africa USA Runway.  Vera will be joining us from Nairobi, Kenya.

Vera Vee Ochia Couture

Leaving Africa and homing in on some of our US based Designers we are proud to welcome on board Miss Estella Al or Estella Couture as she is best known.  Estella has worked with the Miss Africa USA Pageant for the last 3 years, she has witnessed the pageant grow and is always ready to lend a hand.  We are very happy to have Estella Couture on Board again this year. Estella hails from Nigeria and her designs are certainly inspired by her roots. Well respected name in the Fashion industry in Africa Diaspora, she is also very passionate about helping people in need. Her most recent humanitarian effort is the Fashion For Jos campaign to raise funds for the victims of the recent Massacre in the Nigerian community of Jos.

Simply Estella Couture

Still homing in, on designers of the Africa diaspora, we caught up with the LA based Fashion designer Akouavi Fashions.  Akouavi is originally from Togo, based in California. The pageant team proudly welcomes Akouavi Fashions as one of the lead designers to dazzle the Miss Africa USA Runway. Not only does Akoavi design casual and couture wear, she has a huge collection of African Hats and head gears.

There is lots of excitement and interest in the upcoming Miss Africa USA Pageant. The management looks forward to working with all the featured designers and to support the general efforts to promote and encourage such great talent from the motherland.