Taking Second Place In The Miss Guinea USA Pageant Is Anything But A Loss
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Taking Second Place In The Miss Guinea USA Pageant Is Anything But A Loss

It won’t stop me from accomplishing my goals.

144
Taking Second Place In The Miss Guinea USA Pageant Is Anything But A Loss
Miss Guinea USA

Winter break 2017 was the most fruitful break I've ever had in college. Thanks to my friends and family, I was able to win the title of Miss Guinea USA First-Runner Up, meaning I came in second place.

Despite the fact that I didn’t secure the crown, I still elevated my own invisible crown. A crown that I believe every Black Queen and princess possess. But it is earned through authenticity and achieving goals and not through royalty or financial gains.

Many people ask me how and why I even got into the Miss Guinea USA Pageant. Well, many of my loved ones know I am a bubbly, fun, & an outspoken person. A lot of that comes from the pain I’ve had to embrace & outgrow as a Guinean girl in America, living in places where no one even knew where Guinea is located.

Majority of the time, people label me before even asking where I am from based on my skin tone, facial structure, or “lack of accent.” I always had to help ignorant people understand that there is more to Africa than the more popular countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana (which is often confused with Guinea).

The fact that Guinea is unknown to most people outside of West Africa and the lack of resources in my rich country based on my previous vacations are the main factors that influenced my decision to participate in the Miss Guinea USA pageant.

After being selected as the Washington state representative, I was beyond happy to find a way to give back to my native country, Guinea. I decided to choose education equity as my main focus because it is the best way to eliminate the cycle of poverty.

My goal is to help children who choose or are forced to participate in unlawful child labor become entrepreneurs or gain the basic human rights they deserve: education and effective resources to achieve their dreams.

Before the pageant, my UW friends and I were working on a conference called Africa NOW. It is a conference that will bring young executives and African leaders into a safe space where we would start looking at ways we could unlock the future of African countries. It will take place at the University of Washington on May 19th, 2018.

Unfortunately, it would take another article to explain my plans in detail, which is why I included the link to my GoFundme account.

I am not disappointed about not securing the first place title. The benefits of participating in Miss Guinea USA is the fact that I won money to start my education equity project in Guinea, just like the winner will be able to start her own project.

In addition to that, I also got to build an unbreakable and lasting bond with the other contestants, who were all brilliant and beautiful in their own ways.

Winning Miss Guinea USA first runner-up title has and will help me accomplish my projects in Guinea and the US. I am African and American. My passion and faith in a future full of love, equity, and leadership guide my goals and commitment to always elevate my crown and better the world, as a Black Guinean woman.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

40596
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

25211
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

950835
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

132564
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments