Forever Miss Earth Maryland 2015

Gree(n)tings everyone,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I have been blessed and highly favored, to God be the glory. So on April 3rd, I did my final task as reigning Miss Earth Maryland 2015 and crown the 2016 queen at the Miss Earth United States - 2016 DC Regional Pageant. Over the past year, it has been an honor and pleasure serving my blue crab state and I couldn't have prayed for a better way to end this chapter of my life as I did at the pageant.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

As Miss Earth Maryland, I had the opportunity to travel across the Old Line State visiting middle and high schools talking to students about mining, as well as advocating for a sustainable future for the mining industry, and promoting environmentally-friendly practices in our homes, workplace, and communities. It was an honor being crowned Miss Beauties for a Cause for my platform at Miss Earth USA 2015, which I am very passionate about. It's been wonderful being part of the international Miss Earth organization. Below are some photos from the pageant, as well as a video from my farewell walk. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

On-Stage Question

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson presents Beauty for a Cause Award to Erika Baldwin

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson presents Miss Congeniality Award to Liz Nguyen

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson crowns Junior Miss Virginia Earth United States 2016 Covonna Bynum

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson crowns Elite Miss Maryland Earth United States 2016 Tracey Hirsch

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson crowns Miss District of Columbia Earth United States 2016 Shawna Melvin

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson crowns Miss Virginia Earth United States 2016 Erika Baldwin

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson crowns Miss Maryland Earth 2016 Yashvi Aware

Miss Maryland Earth 2016 Yashvi Aware and Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Thank you, MARYLAND.
I love you.

Although my reign is over, you can stay updated on my current and future adventures on my social media accounts. Follow me on Instagram/Twitter @Ruby_B_Johnson as well as on Facebook. My personal blog is Restored For God's Glory, check it out.

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015

Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility

Autism Awareness Month

Gree(n)tings everyone,

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing great, thanks be to God. April is Autism Awareness Month. Last November 15th, I volunteered for Baltimore's Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Here are some photos below from the event. Since I was in high school, I have always been passionate about autism awareness after serving as a camp counselor at a camp for children with autism.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Autism Awareness: Together We Can Solve The Puzzle

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015

Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility

Miss Eco Sierra Leone 2016 Attends Shina Inc.'s Building Women to Succeed Conference

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I've been doing well and doing all I can for God's glory. On October 16th, I attended Shina Inc.'s 2015 Building Women to Succeed Conference. The theme of this inter-gender conference is "Dare To Speak Up: Unspoken Practices. Cultural Impact and Approaches to Positive Change." I was invited as a guest and panelist. On the In Their Perspective: Our Young Ladies panel, I spoke about Africa, mining, women's empowerment, and sustainability, as well as how I've used pageantry to make an impact. I insisted on the importance of women finding their niche, daring to be different, and mentorship.

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Mrs. Jessica Kamala Mushala (SHINA Inc. Founder/President) and Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnosn

According to the SHINA Inc. website, "Our mission is to help the Most Vulnerable Groups through the exchange of ideas, support and aid in the areas of education, economic, social and cultural development to empower themselves. By working predominantly at community level, we collaborate with grass-roots organizations in rural areas that tend to be overlooked due to the high concentration of donors in urban areas. We promote, encourage and foster better understanding between communities in the United States and abroad."

According to their website, "SHINA, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 based in Maryland. The word Shina (pronounced sh-EE-na) is derived from the Kiswahili language meaning: "roots" and/or the "thick trunk" of a tree. Our mission is to promote, encourage, and foster better understanding between communities in the United States, and abroad."

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Eco Sierra Leone 2016,
Salone's Eco Queen.

Photo Credit:

VIJIMAMBO

Miss ECO Sierra Leone Participates in 2015 The New Americans Expo Panel

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I've been doing well, all glory to the Almighty. On October 4th, I participated in the inaugural The New Americans Expo. I was a panelist in the "Immigrant Challenges in America" session. All panelists and moderator in this panel are of African descent.

Miss Eco Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

I talked about my experience as a Sierra Leone-born woman growing up and living in the United States from middle school through university, and life now as a woman pursuing a mining career. Additionally, I talked about how I am promoting my Sierra Leonean culture through pageantry and advocating for girls/women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, as well as the sustainable future of the mining industry.

Miss Eco Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Eco Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Tata Nelson "Madiba" Mandela

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Eco Sierra Leone 2016,
Salone's Eco Queen.

Miss ECO Sierra Leone Attends Miss Guinee North America 2015 Pageant

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing fabulous, thanks be to God! On Sunday, September 6, I attended the 7th Annual Miss Guinea North America 2015 pageant. This pageant is owned and founded by Mrs. Hawa Barry Diallo. The event was well organized and congratulations to the MGNA team for a successful show. There was entertainment, culture, and good food which I enjoyed at the after-party. It was a great weekend to enjoy and celebrate Africa and the African woman.

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Congratulations to the 5 Miss Guinee North America finalists. They are all smart, beautiful, and dynamic women. Special congratulations to the beautiful Miss M'mah Camara from Maryland who was crowned Miss Guinea North America 2015. Wishing her all the best during her time of service, I'm looking forward to what the future holds for this sweet lady.

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson with other African Queens

During the coronation event, I had the opportunity to talk to the audience about the Miss ECO pageant and its mission of promoting ecotourism and environmental awareness. Having this title of Miss ECO Sierra Leone is very important to me because tourism and promoting Sierra Leone in this period of kicking out Ebola out of our nation is very crucial. This is the time for us as Sierra Leoneans, Guineans, and Liberians to promote and re-brand our nations after the invasion of this deadly virus. Additionally, I talked about my personal platform of "Bridging The Gap: Miners and Environmentalists Must Work Together for Mother Earth!" I made reference to my degree in mining engineering as well as the mining internship I completed in Koidu Town, Kono District two years ago working at Octea Diamond Group. I am grateful to have shared my message with everyone in attendance. Follow my adventures as Miss ECO Sierra Leone on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

BEAUTY AND BRAINS
Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Guinea North America 2015 3rd Runner Up Farida Fofana and Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

DANCING QUEEN
Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Culture makes people understand each other better. And if they understand each other better in their soul, it is easier to overcome the economic and political barriers. But first they have to understand that their neighbour is, in the end, just like them, with the same problems, the same questions. Paulo Coehlo

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Eco Sierra Leone 2016,
Salone's Eco Queen.


Photos by Life Depicted Productions

Miss ECO Sierra Leone Attends Miss Guinea North America 2015 Empowerment Conference

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing well, thanks be to God! On September 5th, I attended the Miss Guinee North America 2015 leadership and empowerment conference. This was the sixth annual conference leading to the MGNA pageant. The theme of this year's conference was "I am my sister's keeper." The keynote speaker was Liberia's own Ambassador Macdella Cooper of the Macdella Cooper Foundation.

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

There were various speakers at the conference who talked about leadership, empowerment, and the future of the African continent. Other topics included female genital circumcision, education, social media, healthcare, women's rights, Ebola virus, etc. At this event, the Miss Guinee North America 2015 finalists presented their various platforms on their dream for their nation of Guinea and ambitions for using the title as Miss Guinea North America. Besides hearing from the various influential women and men that were part of the panel of speakers, one of my favorite segments was the foot-washing ceremony in commemoration with the conference theme, "I am my sister's keeper," led by Founder of Domestic Violence Wears Many Tags Queen Afi Gaston. As a woman of faith, I appreciated that the conference started off with prayers and the foot-washing ceremony started with prayers as well. It is never wrong to include God.

I Am My Sister's Keeper
Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson praying with her African sisters

Washing My Sister's Feet
Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Thank you to Mrs. Hawa Barry Diallo for having me that weekend and celebrating Guinea's best and brightest in North America, Guinea's future leaders. All of them are women of substance. It makes me proud to see my sisters next door to Sierra Leone with big dreams and accomplishing their goals in different works of life. West Africa OYE! It's all about Mano River Union. The best is yet to come for Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. Follow my adventures as Miss ECO Sierra Leone on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

AFRICAN WOMEN
Ambassador Macdella Cooper of Liberia and Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Eco Sierra Leone 2016,
Salone's Eco Queen.

Miss Eco Sierra Leone Attends African Heritage Month 2015 Proclamation

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I've been nothing short of blessed, and just so thankful to God for His grace. On Wednesday, September 2, I served as hostess at the 2015 Proclamation Program for African Heritage Month, organized by Montgomery County's African Affairs Advisory Group and African Immigrant Caucus. Her Excellency Amina Salum Ali, African Union Ambassador to the United States, served as Special Speaker at the event.

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Her Excellency Amina S. Ali (African Union Ambassador to the United States) and Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Her Excellency Amina Salum Ali became the permanent representative of the African Union to the United States on April 13, 2007. Ambassador Ali speaks on behalf of the African Union and its member states to accelerate socio-economic integration of the continent, promote peace and stability, and build partnerships between African governments and all segments of civil society, in particular women and youth, as well as the private sector. A veteran Tanzanian civil servant and politician, Ambassador Ali was born and raised on the island of Zanzibar and educated in India, where in 1979 she earned a bachelor's degree in economics, and two years later a master's in business administration in marketing. She was a long-serving member of Parliament and has held various ministerial positions in the Tanzanian government, the most recent of which was minister of state in the office of the chief minister in Zanzibar. As the African Union's first woman ambassador, Ambassador Ali is committed to promoting women's rights and children's issues. She is also the founder of Zanzibar Women Welfare Trust, an NGO that supports the development of women and children to combat devastating health issues like HIV/AIDS. Ambassador Ali is also is a member of IDB Bank eminent women panel to mainstream women development policies in the bank.

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Community Outreach Manager Mr. Daniel Koroma and Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Lawyer and AAAG Chairwoman Fatmata Barrie and Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

The purpose of the African Affairs Advisory Group is to ensure that the County Executive is well informed of and able to act effectively to respond to the needs and concerns of Africans living and/or working in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County (Maryland) Executive Isaiah Leggett and Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

Sierra Leone Embassy Second Secretary Ms. Fatmata Dao and Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

It was wonderful meeting new people, as well as seeing familiar faces. It's always a pleasure networking with driven and hardworking Africans in the diaspora doing phenomenal things for their community. I am proud to be an African. View more photos and follow my adventures as Miss ECO Sierra Leone on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Miss ECO Sierra Leone 2016 Ruby B. Johnson

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. Dr. Maya Angelou

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Eco Sierra Leone 2016,
Salone's Eco Queen.