Friday 8 June 2012

The reigning Miss Universe Leila Lopes will be visiting Ghana.


Press Release
The reigning Miss Universe Leila Lopes will be visiting Ghana 
between June 9-12, 2012 as part of her tour of West Africa. While in Ghana, Miss Universe 
2012 will visit the SOS Children’s villages in Tema, pay courtesy calls on the Vice President 
His Excellency John Mahama as well the Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, and be the 
Guest of Honour at a cocktail reception.
Ms. Lopes went from being Miss Angola to become Miss Universe 2011 at the 60
th
Miss Universe pageant in Rio Janeiro, Brazil. It was the first time in 12 years that an African 
woman has held the title of Miss Universe. She became the second black African woman 
ever to be a Miss Universe titleholder
Miss Universe 2011, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, will tour Senegal, Cote 
d’Ivore, Togo, and Nigeria on this trip. She will be visiting various orphanages raising 
awareness about HIV/Aids and educating children and women in her commitment to help 
achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Miss Lopes is scheduled to 
meet university students in all the four countries she visits. She will also meet government 
ministers with whom she hopes to share her views on poverty alleviation and the need for 
spreading education opportunities. 
She said: “I am grateful to Ecobank and Roberta Annan Consulting for arranging this 
trip for me. I know that Africa was recently commended for making impressive strides 
towards achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015. However, 
much more needs be done to lift millions of Africans out of poverty and in educating our Page%2%of%3
people about the dangers of HIV/Aids. I also see the tour as an opportunity to celebrate 
African achievements, which are often understated,” she added. 
Leila Lopes’ visit to Ghana will be the first of a reigning Miss Universe to the 
country, an initiative of the Roberta Annan Consulting Group. Mrs. Roberta Annan, President 
of the US-based consulting company during a meeting yesterday with Ms. Leila Lopes, Miss 
Universe 2011 said:  “We are very excited about this trip and in full support of Miss 
Universe's mission to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS orphans. The SOS organization is a 
great model and one that is to be commended for its contributions to African children said . 
Commenting on this historic visit, R. Ayite Okyne, Chief Executive Officer of The 
Insignia Group and National Director of the Miss Universe Ghana pageant said, “We are 
delighted that the first Miss Universe titleholder we have the pleasure to host is a product of
Angola; a product of Africa. It is testament that Africa and African women can compete on 
the international stage and excel. We hope this visit will be a source of both pride and 
inspiration for the young women of Ghana. The country and people of Ghana look forward to 
welcoming Miss Lopes and demonstrating that Ghanaians are ‘the friendliest people in 
Africa’.” The Miss Universe® Ghana Pageant, is the official national preliminary of the 
international Miss Universe® Pageant, licensed by Donald Trump’s Miss Universe® 
Organization. 
The tour is being sponsored by Ecobank, the leading Pan-African bank. Ecobank 
CEO Arnold Ekpe said he was delighted that Ecobank was associated with Miss Lopes’s 
campaign, as she is a symbol of African achievement and excellence. “Many in our target 
audience, especially the youth contingent, are highly aspirational and resonate with the 
associations of success, achievement and collective concern for the people of Africa, that Page%3%of%3
Miss Universe represents,” Mr. Ekpe said. Meanwhile, Ecobank has started a student 
promotion to fit into the tour in each country Miss Lopes visits. 
Other local partners include the Labadi Beach Hotel, Universal Motors, Pernod
Ricard, Safina Water, the Angolan Embassy, Renee Q, Sankofa Wear, Pashmel Development 
Group and Afua Owusu Designs.
Roberta Annan Consulting Group (RAC) is a management firm that specializes in 
aligning investors with government agencies with the aim of stimulating economic, social 
and political growth. RAC’s clients value our unique ability to apply state-of-the-art 
approaches clearly and convincingly, our commitment to delivering unbiased results in a 
timely fashion, and our reputation for quality and success in all sectors. Our clients rely on 
the integrity and skills of our unparalleled team of consultants and other experts supported by 
our vast range of contacts and partners. With our headquarters in New York, New York and 
Accra, Ghana, RAC serves clients from sites across West Africa and North America.
# # #
For further information, please contact 
Mrs. Audrey Swanzy-Essandoh, 
National Coordinator, Miss Universe Ghana
+233.(0)27.755.1247

Grammy Winner And Broadway Star Michelle Williams To design For African Clothing Brand Koshie O.


Grammy-award winner and Broadway star Michelle Williams is set to design pieces for the next collection of African brand Koshie O. as part of "The Koshie O. Woman” campaign.  "The Koshie O. Woman" campaign is a progressive initiative that celebrates strong, confident and bold women who are able to juggle various day-to day tasks while staying fashionable and stylish. Michelle Williams is a Koshie O. woman and will co-design and name pieces for the Koshie O. Spring /Summer 2013 collection in support of the campaign.

Known for her unmistakably individual fashion sense, Michelle brings authenticity and knowledge to the brand.

Nina Baksmaty, founder and Creative director of Koshie O. says," It is such an honor to have Michelle Williams design pieces for Koshie O. She has been an inspiration of mine from her Destiny's Child days up until now and I know the public is going to love what Koshie O. and Michelle Williams will come up with."

Samples of these pieces will be available for buyers this July and will be available for consumers in Spring 2013.

This will be the first collection of Koshie O. where customized Koshie O. prints will be used on the fabrics.

About the Koshie O. Woman

"The Koshie O Woman" is a campaign where female celebrities who embody what the brand stands for will co-design a few pieces for the Koshie O Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Fans will be able to follow the design process of these celebrities through various social media outlets and the pieces will be available for sale in Spring 2013.

About Michelle Williams

A versatile artist who has swiftly and brilliantly conquered every stage she has set foot on. A multi-award winning international singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress, Michelle is best known as one-third member of the record-breaking R&B and Pop sensation, Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling female groups of all time. Michelle’s latest international single, “On The Run” was recently released in the UK and peaked at #4 on Commercial Pop Top 30 Club charts. She collaborated with dance-pop diva, Ultra Naté (Ultra Naté & Michelle Williams) on dance song "Waiting On You,” a song climbing the Billboard Dance/Club Play charts, currently at #12 (from #17). Michelle also starred in the acclaimed touring stage play “What My Husband Doesn't Know” during the Spring and Fall of 2011. The play is now showing on BET. In 2012 Michelle plans to release her latest work; an R&B/Inspirational album slated for release in 2013.

About Koshie O.

The brand Koshie O. is the flag-bearer for a new concept in luxury that teams urban aesthetics with refined African craftsmanship in an absolutely contemporary project. The designer focuses on premium fabrics selected, processed and hand-sewn by Ghanaian dressmakers and artisans. A unique mix of style and cultural references. www.koshieo.com , @koshieo , www.facebook.com/koshieo

For Buyer/Press information contact
The R’ajwa Company
Catherine (Lady May) Hagan



Grammy Award Winning Artist Mya To design For African Clothing Brand Koshie O.


Grammy-award winning artist Mya is set to design pieces for the next collection of African brand Koshie O. as part of "The Koshie O. Woman” campaign.  "The Koshie O. Woman" campaign is a progressive initiative that celebrates strong, confident and bold women who are able to juggle various day-to day tasks while staying fashionable and stylish. 
Mya is a Koshie O. woman and will co-design and name pieces for the Koshie O. Spring /Summer 2013 collection in support of the campaign. 

 Nina Baksmaty, founder and Creative director of Koshie O. says," The whole Koshie O. team is excited to be working with Mya. We absolutely love her talent and her fashion and we strongly believe that Koshie O. and Mya are going to create magic together.”

Samples of these pieces will be available for buyers this July and will be available for consumers in Spring 2013. Mya will be donating 5% of sales from her pieces to the global humanitarian agency Mercy Corps.

This will be the first collection of Koshie O. where customized Koshie O. prints will be used on the fabrics.

About the Koshie O. Woman

"The Koshie O Woman" is a campaign where female celebrities who embody what the brand stands for will co-design a few pieces for the Koshie O Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Fans will be able to follow the design process of these celebrities through various social media outlets and the pieces will be available for sale in Spring 2013.


About Mýa

Grammy Award Winning Artist Mýa is celebrating 2012 in the entertainment industry as an internationally known, respected & loved singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and philanthropist. In 2012 Mýa partnered with InGrooves-Fontana for the worldwide independent release of her album, “K.I.S.S (Keep It Sexy & Simple)” featuring the sparkling single, “Fabulous Life”  which can be heard in the NBCUniversal Bravo Ad Campaign, "Fashion By Bravo." Mýa entertained the world and impressed millions on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and finished out the decade named as one of Billboard’s Hot 100 Artists of the Decade, a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award–Winning Actress and as the President and founder of her own non–profit foundation, The Mýa Arts & Tech Foundation. Mýa, whose extensive repertoire includes hits such as , “Case of the Ex,” “Ghetto Superstar,” “Free,” “Lady Marmalade” and “My Love Is Like...Wo,” is currently recording new music via her own studio, Planet 9 and touring the globe.  Itunes Link for “K.I.S.S.”  http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/k.i.s.s.-keep-it-sexy-simple/id484853286 

About Koshie O.

The brand Koshie O. is the flag-bearer for a new concept in luxury that teams urban aesthetics with refined African craftsmanship in an absolutely contemporary project. The designer focuses on premium fabrics selected, processed and hand-sewn by Ghanaian dressmakers and artisans. A unique mix of style and cultural references.www.koshieo.com , @koshieo , www.facebook.com/koshieo

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps helps people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world's toughest places with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives. Our worldwide team in 40 countries is improving the lives of 19 million people. For more information, seemercycorps.org .

For Buyer/Press information contact
The R’ajwa Company

Catherine (Lady May) Hagan

FashionistaGH Photo of the Day



Photo Credit: WunderFin
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The Beauty of Life, no matter its imperfections, can not be Ignored. Embrace it.