Erica Yayra Nego (born c. 1984 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American-Ghanaian businesswoman, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She was elected Miss Minnesota USA 2009 and Miss Universe Ghana 2011,[1][2][3]
Erica Nego | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1984 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Nationality | American  Ghanaian  |
| Other names | Yayra Nego |
| Citizenship | America Ghana |
| Known for |
|
Nego is the co-founder of Style & Grace, a Minneapolis-based etiquette academy.[4][5]
Early life edit
Nego was born in about 1984 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[6][7][8] At the age of 12, she was signed to Ford Modeling Agency.[citation needed] She is of Ghanaian,[9] German and Persian ancestry.[10]
Pageants edit
As Miss Minnesota USA 2009, Nego competed at Miss USA 2009 placing in the top 15 at the competition.[1] She also competed at Miss Universe 2011 in São Paulo, Brazil on September 12, 2011.[11]
In popular culture edit
The play School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh was inspired by the 2011 Miss Universe Ghana competition in which Nego participated,[12][13] and the controversy around colorism that this contest sparked.[14]
References edit
- ^ a b "Miss Ghana Universe Website". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
- ^ Grossberg, Michael. "Colorism, bullying in Ohio State graduate's 'Mean Girls'-influenced coming-of-age play". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ "A West African spin on queen bees and mean teens - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ "Mind Your Manners: Holiday Etiquette Tips". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ERICA NEGO - SecureNigeria365". SecureNigeria365. 2017-04-07. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ Walljasper, Matt (2020-02-07). "True Colors' production of School Girls sparks conversation about colorism and pretty privilege". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ Cristi, A. A. "The Garden Theatre Goes Back To School In SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ "Beauty and the colorism beast: Norfolk's Generic Theater rocks a mean African 'School Girls'". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ "St. Petersburg's American Stage addresses colorism in new play 'School Girls'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ "Yayra Nego is Miss Universe Ghana". Modern Ghana. 2011-07-03. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "Sao Paulo, Brazil to Host the 2011 MISS UNIVERSE® Pageant Live on NBC". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ Holdren, Sara (2017-11-16). "Theater Review: The Funny, Fierce, Fearsome Competition of School Girls". Vulture. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ "In 'School Girls,' African And Western Beauty Standards Collide In Dramatic Fashion". DCist. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
- ^ Chris Hewitt (March 13, 2019). "Inspired by Minnesota beauty queen, Jungle Theater's 'School Girls' questions colorism". StarTribune. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
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