Gree(n)tings everyone!!!
I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing awesome, thanks be to God! On the night of March 28th, I attended the inaugural Kono Union USA Fundraising Ball in Beltsville, Maryland. Kono Union is the oldest Sierra Leonean organization in the United States, and Kono is one of the most diverse districts in Sierra Leone. The attire for the event was formal wear which could be Afrikana (African wear) and/or black tie, with some blue. Everyone looked beautiful in blue. I am wearing a
Sera Vero Nik gown by the talented Ms. Fruwah Boma Chapman. I felt very regal in this blue flowy gown. Make sure you check out the
Sera Vero Nik page, and let me know if you need the designer's (Fruwah) contact information.
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Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson
Gown: Sera Vero Nik |
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Left-Right:
Ball MCs Aminata Ahmadu and Natasha Beckley, Dr. Fuambai Sia Ahmadu, Mr. Mohamed Lamrana Bah, and Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson
Miss Earth MD Gown: Sera Vero Nik |
Besides supporting a great cause, I attended this event to support one of my mentors, Dr. Fuambai Sia Ahmadu. Dr. Fuambai is the CEO/Co-Founder of the Miss Sierra Leone USA Scholarship and Leadership Pageant. This is the first pageant I competed in, and have had the opportunity to serve as Miss Sierra Leone USA 2012-2014. Besides serving my Sierra Leonean community in the United States and back home in Sierra Leone, this title provided me with the opportunity to do my mining internship in Sierra Leone in 2013 at Koidu Limited - Part of Octea Diamond Group. Kono District has a special place in my heart not only because I have some family members that lived and still live there, my mining internship was also there. That summer, I worked and lived in Tankoro Chiefdom, Koidu Town. While serving as the intern, I also got to explore some areas in the District, as well as interact with the local residents while advocating for my personal platform as Miss Sierra Leone USA. My personal platform as Miss SLUSA is advocating for the recruitment and retention of girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
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Dr. Fuambai Sia Ahmadu
Medical Anthropologist, CEO of Miss Sierra Leone USA Scholarship and Leadership Pageant, and Kono Union USA President |
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Belly Dancing Beauty Queen
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson |
This event was dedicated to Sierra Leone's national heroes, the victims of Ebola, especially to the surviving families in Kono District. The proceeds will go towards those chiefdoms that have been most affected by this deadly virus. Also, KUUSA plans to contribute financial assistance to Wellbody Alliance, a front line health center based in the District that provides critical health care to residents in hard-to-reach areas at the outskirts of Koidu Town. While serving as Miss SLUSA, I am the national ambassador for the center and while doing my internship in Kono, I visited the center. Awards were also given out to members in the Kono community that serve in all works of life for the greater good of the Kono people and Sierra Leoneans as a whole.
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Belly Dancing Beauty Queen
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson |
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Belly Dancing Beauty Queen
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson |
I was part of the entertainment lineup at the ball. I performed a belly dance piece to one of my favorite songs, Al Bal, by Samira Said. As I've mentioned in a previous blog, my favorite color is red, so of course most of my wardrobe is in that color, including my belly dance costumes. As a performer, the audience response contributes a lot to one's energy and it seems they really enjoyed my performance. I was happy to contribute to this wonderful event with one of my passions.
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Belly Dancing Beauty Queen
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson |
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Belly Dancing Beauty Queen
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson |
Being the foodie that I am, I really appreciated the delicious Sierra Leonean food served at the ball. There was a fashion show by Miatta Mamie Sandy with her Ephi210 Accessories and Designs. There was drumming and great beats from Sierra Leone and Guinea, as well as sounds from the continent of Africa. Although I would have loved for the DJ to play more music from Sierra Leone, he had a good collection of African songs as a whole and we danced the night away. For a very cold night such as this Saturday night, I left the event sweating from a good time.
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KUUSA Ball Guest and Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson
Miss Earth MD Gown: Sera Vero Nik |
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Ms. Mary Musa Sesay, Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson, and Mr. David Buakei Vandy
Miss Earth MD Gown: Sera Vero Nik |
I had a great time at the event, and as a Sierra Leonean American woman, I was proud to have been part of this event. I can definitely say I had a ball at the Ball!
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Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson
Gown: Sera Vero Nik |
Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015
Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility
Help me compete at Miss Earth United States 2015. DONATE HERE
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