WHO BECOMES MS. LIBERIA-MINNESOTA THIS YEAR? Ben T Browne and Stanford Peabody

Truly, it is amazing each year when Liberians of different Social, Political, Tribal, and Economic backgrounds get together to celebrate Independence Day, July 26. One of the breath-taking events of the celebration is when beautiful young Liberian women appear on stage to compete for a very prestigious crown, The Miss Liberia Crown. They appear representing each state with significant presence of Liberians in the Diaspora.

Each year the beautiful state of Minnesota-Liberian community is well represented with some of the most beautiful young talented female Liberia can boast of. Each year the Liberian community in Minnesota sopposedly, under the supervision of OLM would first host a Miss Liberia pageant to find a young beautiful, outspoken and talented female to represent the community at the grand finals.

However, the possibility of Minnesota-Liberian community making such an appearance this year seems to be bleak. The July 26 celebration is about six weeks from today, OLM as the franchise provider is yet to open up to the public a bid for who will host the pageant. T&J, a company that hosted it last year is seemingly short of contestants, or so it may seem since the only poster seen by the BC currently at the International Food Market clearly states “Contestants Needed”. 

It is due to this concern that the BC has repeatedly asked the question about the hosting of the Ms Liberia pageant and in the process mentioned the name of T and J, the group that hosted the program last year.  The issue has been followed keenly and several questions asked about the process.  Mrs. Georgette Gray, Board Member of the OLM explained at one point that she had wanted to open up a bid for the groups that wish to vie for the hosting of the pageant.  On another call, she stated that the pageant activities and programming had been returned to the Executive branch and then lastly she told me point blank that she had no idea about where the planning for the program stood at this time. 

               Jallah of T&J

Considering that the BC has been following the progress of this event in order to keep the community informed and to prod the administration, it was with surprise that a call to the BC from a community member advising it to stop the negative press about the T&J group or risked being sued ended up with a three way call to a member of the group, at which time it was made clear to T&J that the BushChicken is in the news business and the Ms Liberia Pageant is news. 

At the end of the three-way conversation, T&J and the BC were able to arrive at an understanding about their roles in the community.  The T&J furthered that the Ms Liberia pageant was on course and that in the next few days the publicity about the event would start in earnest.

Some pageants have already been held and some are in the process of being held.  Miss Liberia Georgia 2006 pageant is slated for June 24th, Pennsylvania was held on the 15th of April, No information for Ms. Massachusetts, Rhode Island was held on April 23rd, Virginia’s not held yet, and Maryland is to be held on June 16th.

The pageant is scheduled for July 21st 2006 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center starting at 8 pm sharp.  Contestants will lodge at the Hampton Inn. For more information about the contest, visit www.missliberia.org.