My name is Elizabeth Murphy. My family and friends call me Elle. I was born and raised in Cameroon, West Africa, to a family of 4. I had two brothers and an older sister until 2015 when tragedy hit my family, and we lost our youngest ( RIP David). I moved to the United States in 2009 to pursue a degree in Registered Nursing. Upon graduating in 2014, I enlisted, becoming a combat medic in the U.S. Army. I am honored to have served in active duty status for nine years. I realized my calling after enlisting and becoming a leader and mother, yet I could not define my self-identity.After going through a tragic divorce, I moaned not so much over a broken marriage but more so over the shame and taboo that I believed I now represented. I used to think that my worth as a woman was a reflection of my marriage. I got scouted by Southwest Model and talent agency as an uprising model/actress during the most challenging season of my life, and that is when my journey and calling truly began to unfold. I realized that so many young and older adults struggle with an identity crisis daily. Our value and worth have been directly related to our accomplishments, relationship/marriage external perception of success, how much we can be of service as women etc. I went through a season of healing and growth, and after ‘Finding Me,’ like Viola Davis shares in her book, I had to spread awareness. Life is meant to be entirely lived in fullness, emotional well-being, and inner joy and wholeness. But until we take a deep dive into understanding our identity, we can’t stop chasing an alternate reality created by nature or nurture. Who we are is independent of whom society has defined us to be. I am now 32yrs old with two boys and a fur baby, and this journey has led me to realize that as humans and as women especially, we go through an entire lifespan servicing people not giving an ounce of attention to what we are or who we’ve become. I currently have an active blog www.EllesForum.com and a growing podcast called Openminded Africa #OMA geared towards educating, uplifting, and empowering our community to understand and connect to their true identity.  My mission statementTo create a spark within that helps each individual to understand their uniqueness and their unconditional worth

I am a recent engineering graduate from the University of Oklahoma, a Senior Data Analyst, and the International Chair for the National Society of Black Engineers. While more than half of my life has been spent in the United States, I am fully connected both physically and spiritually to the roots of my dear country, Cameroon. I was born in our wonderful capital, Yaoundé, until I moved to the United States at the age of nine with only five English words in my vocabulary. While transitioning to a different country at a young age was not easy, it allowed me to learn the importance of adaptability.One phrase that I have always carried with me is: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” This quote alone has served me as a reminder that I must keep going, no matter what. That there are expectations I must meet in order to inspire the next generation of Africans that they can achieve whatever it is that they set their minds to. Being the next Miss Africa USA will not only help me achieve the humanitarian goals I have for our youth, but it will also allow me to grow closer to our next generation as a role model and representative.As an advocate for our youth and the International Chair for the National Society of Black Engineers, my humanitarian goal is to give back to our youth. A journal article published by the Environmental Research and Public Health highlights the importance of women having access to menstrual hygiene practices. Because the majority of African countries are considered third world countries, it would only be equitable for me to give back by educating our youth about menstrual cycles through an initiative with a team. My second humanitarian goal pertains to my passion: STEM. Before I became an engineer, it was a dream of mine to become one. Now that I have recently graduated, I want to inspire our youth to build an interest in STEM in Africa. The field of engineering has provided me with more opportunities than I can account for and I would like to inspire our youth to build an interest in this passion of mine, should they choose to do so.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OBp6K4gdrpE&feature=shares

I am a 24 year old ambitious lady from Cameroon currently living in the USA, Michigan. I am a licensed practical nurse work to get more experience so as to return to school for my Associates, bachelors and finally get a place in a certified registered nurse anesthesia program. I am single and spend most of my time researching for ways to make orphans around my community back home feel safe and loved.I want to be the next queen because I want to be able to bring hope to the hopeless orphan back in my country, in an orphanage where I already started helping the kids. I want to be able to acquire some more knowledge and empowerment to continue advocating for the orphans My humanitarian goal is to fight hunger and malnutrition amongst the homeless, orphans and needy . Not forgetting the sick and aging population who have no one to care and provide for them.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npjpWYkFOWI