Evelyn Abena Akuaba Appiah (born June 2, 1993) is a Ghanaian–American singer, model and beauty queen who was crowned Queen Beauty Universe 2016 and Miss Grand International 2020.[1][2] She was appointed as Miss Grand USA and became the first Black woman to win the Miss Grand International crown.[3][4] She previously represented Ghana in two of the Big Four international beauty pageants but lost in Miss Universe 2014 and Miss Earth 2019.[5][6]
Abena Appiah | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Evelyn Abena Akuaba Appiah June 2, 1993 |
| Education | Radford University College Fashion |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Top Model of the World Ghana 2013 Miss Universe Ghana 2014 Queen Beauty Universe 2016 Miss Earth Ghana 2019 Miss Grand USA 2020 Miss Grand International 2020 |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Major competition(s) | Top Model Ghana 2013 (Winner) Top Model of the World 2013 (Unplaced) Miss Universe Ghana 2014 (Winner) Miss Universe 2014 (Unplaced) Queen Beauty Universe 2016 (Winner) Miss World America 2017 (Top 16) Miss Earth Ghana 2019 (Winner) Miss Earth 2019 (Top 20) Miss Grand USA 2020 (Winner) Miss Grand International 2020 (Winner) |
Early career
Abena is also a singer who has released several singles, including "Akomah" (2015), "Earth" (2019), "No Hit and Run" (2019) and "No More Hate" (2021).[7] She has worked as a model, appearing in music videos for "Wake Up in the Sky" sung by Bruno Mars, Gucci Mane and Kodak Black, as well as "El Anillo" by Jennifer Lopez.[8]
Pageantry
Abena started joining pageants when she won Top Model Ghana in 2013 and represented her country in Top Model of the World where she finished at top 15. The following year, she represented Ghana in Miss Universe 2014 but she was unplaced.[9][10]
She joined Miss World America 2017 representing New York. After couple of years, she represented Ghana again at Miss Earth 2019, where she placed in the Top 20 and won several awards.[11][12] She trained under the Kagandahang Flores camp, a Philippines-based pageant camp that trains aspiring beauty queens for local and international pageants.[13][14]
Miss Grand International 2020
She joined Miss Grand USA 2020, where she was hailed as the winner and the first African-American to win the title.[15][16] She eventually crowned as the winner of Miss Grand International 2020 by the outgoing titleholder Miss Grand International 2019, Valentina Figuera of Venezuela, on March 27, 2021, at Show DC Hall in Bangkok, Thailand making her the first woman from the United States to win the crown.[17]
Placements
| Competition | Placement | Location | Special Awards | Represented |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Model Ghana 2013[18] | Winner |  Ghana
|
Accra, Ghana
| |
| Top Model of the World 2013[19] | Unplaced |  Red Sea, Egypt
|
Ghana
| |
| Miss Universe Ghana 2014 | Winner | Accra, Ghana
|
Accra, Ghana
| |
| Miss Universe 2014 | Unplaced |  Florida, United States
|
Ghana
| |
| Queen Beauty Universe 2016[20] | Winner |  Spain
|
Ghana
| |
| Miss World America 2017 | Top 16 | Florida, United States
|
Top 10 – Top Model Top 10 – Sports and Fitness |
 New York
|
| Miss Earth Ghana 2019 | Winner | Accra, Ghana
|
Accra, Ghana
| |
| Miss Earth 2019 | Top 20 |  Manila, Philippines
|
Best in Evening Gown (Air) Best in Beach Wear (Air) Best in Talent (Air) Best in Resorts Wear (Air) Miss Vivo (Air) Miss Infinity Cosset (Air) Miss DOH Reg 5 (Air) People's Choice Award Best in Philippine Terno Miss Earth Flora 1st runner-up |
Ghana
|
| Miss Grand USA 2020 | Appointed | New York
|
New York
| |
| Miss Grand International 2020 | Winner |  Bangkok, Thailand
|
Top 20 – Best in Swimsuit Top 20 – How to eat Thai food in 2-minute Challenge |
 United States of America
|
Filmography
| Year | Country | Title | Genre | Role | Producer | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | United States |
Deadmeat | Action | Extra | [21] | |
| 2019 | United States |
Mino: A Diasporic Myth | Utopian fantasy | Zuri | Ashunda Norris | [21][22] |
| 2023 |  Nigeria |
A Taste of Sin | Drama | May | Frank Rajah Arase | [23][24] |
| 2024 | United States |
Meri Mary Mari | Sci-Fi | Meri Mary Mari | Antoine Jackson | [21] |
| Nigeria |
On Different Grounds | TBA | Mildred Okwo | [25] |
References
- ^ "Abena Akuaba Appiah crowned Queen Beauty Universe 2016". India Times. December 22, 2016. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "USA's Abena Appiah is Miss Grand International 2020". Rappler. March 27, 2021. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Wilson, Alyssa (April 2, 2021). "Miss Grand International crowns first Black winner". Black News Channel. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ "Miss USA is first Black contender to win Miss Grand International crown". The Philippine Star. March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Mario Dumaual (March 28, 2021). "Why new Miss Grand International declared: "Philippines mahal kita!'". ABS-CBN Corporation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "'Palaging may Ghana': New Miss Grand Int'l also joined Miss Earth in 2019". ABS-CBN Corporation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Abena Akuaba Appiah Songs on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ "Get to know USA's Miss Grand International Abena Akuaba Appiah". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Jojo Gabinete (March 30, 2021). "Bakit halos maglupasay sa pag-iyak si Abena Appiah nang manalong Miss Grand International 2020?" (in Tagalog). Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Miss Grand International Abena Appiah has message to Filipino bashers". ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Miss Earth Ghana becomes an instant viral sensation with another comedic one-liner". News24. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- ^ "Who is Miss Earth Ghana 2019 Evelyn Abena Appiah?". Rappler. October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- ^ Gagan Singh (March 28, 2021). "KF camp alumna, Abena Appiah representing the US won Miss Grand International contest". Greh India. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Bernie V. Franco (March 29, 2021). "Miss Grand International 2020 Abena Appiah thanks her Philippine pageant camp, Pinay titleholder coach". Pep. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Camille Santiago (March 28, 2021). "Get to know USA's Miss Grand International Abena Akuaba Appiah". The Philippine Star Life. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Ghanaian-American model, Abena Akuaba is the first African-American representative appointed as Miss Grand United States". Schick. July 10, 2020. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Cherry Sun (March 28, 2021). "IN PHOTOS: Meet Miss Grand International 2020 Abena Appiah". GMA Network. Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Evelyn Abena Appiah to represent US at Miss Grand International 2020". India Times. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Abena wins Queen Beauty Universe". Graphic Showbiz. October 10, 2016. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Abena wins Queen Beauty Universe". Africulture. October 2016. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Abena Akuaba". IMDb. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ "Afrofuturistic 'Mino: A Diasporic Myth' Trailer Centers Black Women". blacknerdproblems.com. February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ ""A Taste of Sin" makes Netflix debut". www.graphic.com.gh. March 20, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ "A Taste of Sin". IMDb. 2023. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ Tolulope Fasuan (July 13, 2024). "Abena Appiah excited by Nollywood debut". The Punch. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
External links
- Abena Appiah at IMDb
