Miss Africa USA

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Fashion Institute of Technology Professor, Shawn Grain Carter Joins The Panel of Highly Esteemed Judges of Miss Africa USA 2015

    What a great honor to welcome Professor Shawn Grain Carter from the Fashion Institute of Technology on board the Miss Africa USA 10th Anniversary Team of highly esteemed Judges.  She comes with years of experience and expertise in the Fashion Industry.  Please join us welcome Professor Shawn Grain Carter. She joins us on August 29 from New York. Shawn Grain Carter is a Fashion Institute of Technology Professor and Luxury Branding Consultant in the Fashion Business Management Department. Her career began as an Executive in Buying at Bloomingdale’s. In 1986 she helped launch Bergdorf Goodman’s Home Furnishings Division “The Home on Seven.” Years later she joined Ann Taylor Stores as a Senior Buyer of Dresses, Sportswear, and Accessories until 1991 when she gave birth to her daughter Lindsay Carter, a recent graduate of Mount Holyoke College. Subsequently, she became Merchandising Director at a European luxury brand MCM. Her responsibilities included marketing for Canada, the United States and Japan.  In 1997, Macy’s lured her with a promise to launch their website Macy’s.Com.  Her responsibilities included Designer Sportswear such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.  Professor Grain Carter was selected as a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at the University of Huddersfield, England in 2004. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. She serves on the Board of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and received the Jack and Jill of America “Distinguished Mother of the Year Award.”

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Community Initiatives Director For The Governor of Maryland, Ms Iman Awad Returns To Judge Miss Africa USA 2015

In 2008, Iman Awad was appointed by Governor Martin O’Malley to work within the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives serving the Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs. Currently, Ms. Awad serves as the Administrative Director for both the Governor’s Commissions on Middle Eastern American (established in 2007) and African Affairs (established in 2009).  Ms. Awad graduated from the Loyola University, Maryland in 2008 with a degree in Political Science and Economics. She was also the founder and first President of the Loyola Muslim Student Association. Born and raised in Maryland, Ms. Awad’s parents are originally from Cairo, Egypt and Tripoli, Greece.In 2009, she was awarded the “Outstanding Youth Professional” award through the Maryland Middle East American Chamber of Commerce and was elected as the youngest serving President of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee Maryland Chapter. In 2013 she advanced Governor O’Malley as his only Arab staff member on his delegation to Israel, Jordan and Palestine. Ms. Awad serves on the newly formed Maryland Arab American Committee which works with several organizations to promote education and awareness of the Arabic culture.

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ALPHADI: Father of African Fashion, Prince of The Desert, Confirmed On The Panel Of Celebrity Judges Of Miss Africa USA Pageant 2015

Miss Africa USA 10th Anniversary Judges Panel will not be complete without the Father of African Fashion, Prince of The Desert, ALPHADI.  It is hereby confirmed that Aphadi will be taking his seat among the highly esteemed Judges for the Pageant this year.  August 29 2015 at the Fillmore Theater where 26 African beauty queens will be taking those final steps to the Crown.  It is an honor to have Alphadi as one of the Judges. Alphadi is a notable fashion designer from Niger often known as the “Magician of the Desert”. A world renowned leading fashion designer, he is the President of the Federation of African Fashion Designers, and Founder/President of the International Festival of African Fashion FIMA. He is Touareg, from an upper caste lineage, on both his parents sides. Alphadi was born in Timbuktu, Mali, but moved to his parents native Niger at a young age. Alphadi studied at Cardon Savard Studios in Paris, started his label in 1984,and his first haute couture line was released in 1985 at the Paris International Tourism Tradeshow. His line has since extended into sportswear and Perfume. The Alphadi line, which has ‘Complexe Alphadi’ boutiques in Niamey (on Rue Vox), Ivory Coast and Paris. In 1998 Alphadi was the one of the three African fashion designers to win the Principal Prince Claus Award. In 1998, he created the first FIMA, the International Festival of African Fashion which was located in Niger.This event allowed African designers to come together with other international designers such as  Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, Jean Paul Gaultier and Paco Rabanne. Since then, the event has been going on every 2 years. —

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