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Warsaw resident Diana-Melissa Ngoumape is a finalist in the Miss Africa USA pageant, set for Sept. 6.
Ngoumape said the pageant, happening in Baltimore, Md., is for those of African descent and tries to promote African culture and beauty and for African immigrants and descendants to come together and represent Africa.
This is the first time Ngoumape has participated in a pageant. She decided to participate this year because in the Miss Africa USA pageant, contestants can pick African countries they want to represent during the pageant and she wanted to represent the Central African Republic, which is the country she was born in. She immigrated to the U.S. in 2013. She said she’s experienced war in her home country at two different points in her life and her family left after a coup d'état.
“Most people do not know about my country. They do not know that we exist or even that we have beautiful, intelligent people, talented women or individuals in general. So I really want to shine that light on my country and for people to get to know about my country,” she said.
She added she’s been passionate about pageantry. She said pageantry can give people the platform they need to advocate for things they care for. Whether she wins or loses the pageant, she will continue to work on her platform, NDORA, which is dedicated to empowering girls, youth and mothers through education and opportunity.
Ngoumape also said pageants empower women and goes beyond a beauty aspect. She also said the Miss Africa USA pageant helps break stereotypes of Black people and helps bring a different light to people of African descent.
“I know personally, God placed that passion in me for a purpose and I just know whatever I do, I’ll be able to bring a different, shine a different light on pageants,” she said.
Ngoumape will be one of 19 finalists participating in Miss Africa USA. All finalists have to be at the event by Sept. 3 in order to have a welcome dinner, celebrate the pageant’s 20th anniversary and have rehearsals.
Segments include African glamor, traditional wear and evening gowns. There will be an online competition for people to vote in. The votes do count, but a panel of judges will ultimately chose the winners from the finalists.
She hopes to walk away from the pageant with the crown and to make God, her family, her country and Warsaw proud.
People and organizations are able to sponsor finalists to help with hair, airfare and other things with the pageant. If people are interested in sponsoring Ngoumape, they can email her at ngoumapedianamelissa@gmail.com.
