*“I’m Melissa Ngumape. I am Miss Africa USA 2025,” said the statuesque beauty dressed in a beautiful gown with her crown and her Miss Africa USA sash.
Miss Africa USA was one of the first interviews I obtained while covering the red-carpet arrivals at the 2025 Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards (HAPAwards) held recently at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.
“We ended up having 16 incredible candidates. All the ladies came hard,” Ngumape said during my interview with her when I asked how many candidates there were at the pageant. “I was so grateful and honored to share the stage with them. I’m from the heart of Africa. This is the first time the Central African Republic has won Miss Africa USA.”
This is the 9th year of the prestigious awards that honor Hollywood and African personalities, leaders, political dignitaries, artists in motion pictures, the arts, music, and comedy industries. The awards were hosted by Pooch Hall (“The Game”), Novi Brown (“Sistas”), and Nathalie Beasnael (Health4Peace Philanthropist)
The HAPAwards is an event led by Dr. Tina Weisinger, and this year, I Dream 4 All Foundation presented the 2025 HAPAwards with a theme of “Driving Global Investments & Cultural Integration.” Those honored included American actor Glynn Turman with the Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award in entertainment; actor Bill Duke with the Icon Award; Arnold Turner with the Excellence in Photography Award; Nigerian promoter/DJ Peter Lentini with the Ooni of Ife Leadership (Kings) Award; film producer Manny Hally with the Visionary Producer Award; Nigerian-American singer, actress, and producer Monica Omorodion Swaida with the HAPA African Entertainment Vanguard Award. African honorees included H.E. Joseph Nyumah Boackai, Sr. (President of the Republic of Liberia), Iba Gani Abiodun Ihe Adams with the African Heritage Award, and High Chief Honorable Ambassador Billy Umar Garba with the Yoruba Cultural Ambassador Award.
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Other personalities that attended include Brandon T, Jackson (“The Family Business: New Orleans”), Jensen Attwood (“The Family Business: New Orleans”); director Trey Haley (The Family Business: New Orleans”); South Africa’s Nkosikhona Mpungose; D’Kia Anderson (“Beauty in Black”); Brandee Evans (“Reasonable Doubt”), Yvette Nicole Brown; Nova Brown; Kiki Haynes (“All the Queens”), and Orlando Jones (“The Family Business: New Orleans”).
I happen to caught Meagan Good (Roll Bounce, Stomp the Yard) and Yale School of Drama graduate and Primetime Emmy nominated actor Jonathan Majors (Loki, Antman & the Wasp: Quantomania) as they were leaving the red carpet and I shouted out a question, asking whose idea it was for them to dress up as the 18th Egyptian Dynasty Pharoh Akhenaten and his wife Nefertiti on Halloween and Meagon said, “We did!” and Jonathan smiled and pointed to her and mouthed the words, “She did.” www.HapAwards.com
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENTS: “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is in its 26th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom, Saturday, April 19, 2025, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom, Saturday, November 8, 2025. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase, and a National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance, and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $20,000 in prizes/products/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com, RSVP for Zoom Access at Eventbrite.com, or email [email protected].
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