FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     
April 6, 2010
Contact: Sarah Perry
(662) 329-7119
sperry@pa.muw.edu                       

MUW student seeks support for Miss Africa USA Scholarship Pageant

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- MUW senior legal studies major, Janet Grace Choongo of Jackson, is seeking online votes to be crowned the “People’s Princess” in the Miss Africa USA Pageant to be held on Saturday, July 24 in Washington, D.C.

Each delegate has a profile on the Miss Africa USA website which details their platform and projects for communities in Africa and America that are in need. Fans of Choongo may log on to the site to cast their vote. The delegate with the most votes will be crowned the “People’s Princess.” Choongo’s platform is breast care awareness, and she is representing her country of origin, Zambia. 

Choongo, along with 75 semi-finalists from different African countries, recently went through a one-day boot camp in Atlanta, where only 40 contestants were selected to participate in the Miss Africa USA Pageant in July. During boot camp, delegates gave presentations about their platforms, went through several interviews, talked about their talents and participated in video shoots and photo shoots. They also participated in motivational workshops and concluded the day with a Valentine’s Day ball.

Choongo said, “My experience in Atlanta is an experience I will always remember. It helped me realize and develop my personal skills that I had not yet discovered. It instilled in me a deeper commitment for humanity and gave me the motivation to work even harder to step outside my box and make a difference in other people’s lives. I thank the Miss Africa USA Organization for commitment to the pursuit of my dream.”

To learn more about Choongo and to cast your vote, visit http://www.missafricaunitedstates.com/vote-finalist.php?cont=33. Voters may vote more than once.