After 6 months, and over 200+ applications, the selection process for the next Miss Black NC USA 2007 has been narrowed to ten finalists. The new Miss Black NC USA 2007 will be crowned on March 18, 2007 at 4pm at the Clayton Center Auditorium. The top finalists have worked very hard to get to this point.

The 2007 Theme is “Dreamgirls”. The finalists have been working on a very energetic routine to start the evening off. “We have a very good group of finalist this year, these young ladies posses the whole package, beauty that radiates from the inside, intelligence and a will to serve their community, “ says Anthony O. Vann, Executive Director of Noire Productions, Inc. “I feel very strongly that any of these young ladies could go on to capture the title of Miss Black USA, and bring it back to NC” continues Vann.

The winner of the Miss Black NC USA will spend 10 days in Gambia, Africa in May representing NC as she competes for the title of Miss Black USA. The current reigning Miss Black USA, Celi Dean will be one of our special guest at the NC pageant this year. Since being crowned “Miss Black USA 2006” Celi has become an international ambassador for young African American women. She recently received the prestigious honor “Member of the Republic of the Gambia ” . When she's not jet-setting across the globe, she devotes much of her time to community service. Celi has partnered with Wal-Mart and the Children's Miracle network, and helped to raise over 1 million dollars for the charity. Whether she's walking the red carpet or promoting her new cosmetics collection “ Look My Way ” by Flori Roberts, Celi always finds time to promote the importance of education. While here in the area Miss Dean will do several press conferences, autograph signings, and special appearances throughout the Capital City.

We ask that you help spread the word about this wonderful event. Events like this gives our younger generation something to look forward, hopefully other young girls will aspire to one day grace the Miss Black NC USA stage. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the Clayton Center Box Office, or online at www.Theclaytoncenter.com .

Noire Fashions is now online after three years! You can now shop from the convenience of your own home, browse 1000’s of ladies and men’s suits at your leisure.

“We are very excited about this new move, “ says Vann. “We can now reach a larger customer base, and this will help us maintain low prices for our customers.”

Noire Fashions started about three years ago as a joke. “My mom is the church suit queen” says Vann. “She would purchase at least 2 or 3 suits a month. After probing into how much she was paying for them, I told her, mom I don’t think those suits cost that much, I think your seller is making a really big profit off of you. So I decided to look into it. After obtaining my Merchant’s Retail License, I started purchasing suits at wholesale just to save my mom some money...it was obvious I was not going to keep her from buying suits. Then I decided I would like to be a blessing for other women and men who like to dress nice, and this was the birth of Noire Fashions.”

Noire Fashions prides itself on keeping their prices the lowest around, we want you to look nice, but not break your pocket. We specialize in all lines of ladies and men apparel, from dressy, to casual, to formal. We also sell choir robes, minister robes, and witness apparel; all offered at group discount rates. Visit us online at www.Noirefashions.com , if you don’t see what you are looking for there, feel free to send me an email at noireproduction@aol.com and I will do my best to find it for you!

www.womensempowermentexpo.com

The 13th Annual Women's Empowerment Expo is coming to the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, March 31, 2007.

Keynote speaker this year is Natalie Cole! You won't want to miss this one! Tickets On Sale Now at The RBC Center and all Ticketmaster locations.

Performing musical artists include:

• Joe
• Unk
• Robin Thicke
• Jeff Majors
• Martha Munizzi
• Hezekiah Walker

We couldn’t close this newsletter without acknowledging the outstanding work that our teen ambassadors have been doing here in Wake County. Melanie Houston, Miss Teen Essence of Wake County, and Jessica Jenkins, Jr. Miss Essence of Wake County have been doing outstanding jobs representing the organization. These young ladies led the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March in January in Raleigh, NC. It was a touching moment to see these young ladies lead a crowd of thousands as they marched the streets of downtown Raleigh, NC. The young ladies recently spoke at Zebulon Elementary School along with Little Miss Essence of Wake County, Kyra Davis, under the direction of the Wake County Director, LaDaria Richardson.

Plans are underway for the 1st Jr. Miss & Miss Teen Essence of Orange/Durham County. Seminars have begun in that area, applications are still being accepted. The final event is scheduled to take place April 14, 2007.

Johnston County had their first Interest Meeting for the Teen Essence Program. Seminars for this event will begin in the next few weeks. Applications are being accepted for this program, it is open to residents of all counties. The final event is scheduled to take place April 28, 2007. Please help us reach others with these opportunities, by spreading the word to teens from across NC.