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Yordanos' hard work and determination in school has brought her to be a current student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN pursuing a degree in communications. In spite of all the time being put into her education, she has made time to stay heavily involved in her community with various non-profit organizations. This includes her involvement in Relay-4-Life for four years which works alongside the American Cancer Society, completing several hours with a local forest preserve to help maintain the beauty of our Earth, as well as participating in many food and clothing drives to help others who are less fortunate and need assistance to take care of their families.
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Yordanos Ghdey.
From www.missafricaunitedstates.com
Below is Yordanos Ghdey's UGPulse interview with UGPulse Beauty Editor, Pauline Long.
Yordanos Ghdey.
The 2007-2008 Miss Africa Scholarship Pageant Awards
Welcome to UGPulse! Can you please tell us briefly about your background?
My name is Yordanos Ghdey and I am 20 years old. I was born to the loving parents, Yemane and Asmeret Ghdey on September 10, 1987 in Kassalah, Sudan. Although I am Eritrean, I was born Sudan due to the war for independence between my country and Ethiopia. Fortunately, I was blessed with the opportunity to come to the United States in October of 1990, when I was three years old. I have five siblings in my family. Being the second oldest, I have one older sister, three younger brothers, and another younger sister. I have always been a person who likes to step out of the box and the norm that we have conformed to by society. Because of this, I have been able to accomplish many goals for myself. My positive and personable attitude has also led to be my high school's Homecoming Queen, to move on and represent the state of Illinois as Illinois' Homecoming Queen in a national pageant, and best of all, represent my country Eritrea as Miss Eritrea 2007! I am currently a sophomore at Purdue University pursuing a degree in communication. I love meeting new people, making new friends, and am so excited to meet all these wonderful ladies who will be positively representing their countries alongside me!
Why did you enter Miss Africa United States beauty pageant?
I am not entering this beauty pageant to prove how beautiful I am or even the women from my country are. As a whole, African women have been created beautifully by God physically with our vibrant skin tones and mentally with our intelligent minds. My two main objectives behind entering this prestigious pageant are to shine a new light on Eritrea. She is a young, beautiful country, and I believe I have been blessed with the gift to represent her in the best way that I can; My second reasoning is to be a part of something that shows how unified the people of Africa can be. People are consistently speaking of war amongst the numerous countries of Africa, but we are slowly progressing and through this pageant we can continue to have that hope.
I can tell you have a very close connection with your country of origin even though you are living in the Diaspora. What do you love most about Eritrea?
What do I love most about my country? The people! They are so welcoming and so caring. Above all this, their love and compassion for one another is genuine. The way my people and our communities come together to show support for our beloved country as well as one another makes me so proud. Eritrea could do not be as beautiful as it is without her people. And so far, we have all represented her very well- not as independent successors, but as a whole.
What book are you currently reading?
I am currently reading "God's Words of Life for Graduates." It was a book given to me after I graduated high school to guide me in my faith through college.
What's the one thing you would never do without?
I can not do without my family! I love my computer, my car, and even my cell phone, but my family is what gets through life. They help me stay grounded and appreciative when I am being blessed with endless gifts through God, but they also help my keep my faith in Him and stay strong through all the hardships that come my way as well.
What are your favorite places in Africa that bring fond memories?
I have not returned to Africa since I came to the United States. However, I would love to go back to my country and go to the beaches of the Red Sea. My parents and younger sister as well as many of my Eritrean friends have told me how beautiful it is, especially at sunset.
Yordanos Ghdey.
Everyone I know defines beauty in their own special way, how would you describe beauty in the eyes of an African woman?
The African woman is beautiful because of the strength within her. Regardless of war, famine, or any big and little situation these women stay strong for their families. They support their husbands through every situation, they love their children regardless of how much wrong the do, and they act as the glue in the family, keeping everyone together. A beautiful African woman knows what she wants, sets goals and obtains them. She stays patient and works hard to earn everything she receives.
How would you portray and represent Africa as an ambassador to USA and the rest of the world?
First I would like to gather information on a majority of the positive changes the different countries of Africa are doing to help better this continent as a whole. Western society only depicts the negative aspects of many of our African countries when in reality there are many plans that are being taken into action with the hopes of improving Africa. This way people across the world will realize Africa is much more than just the framed portions they view on television and will gain a better understanding as well as a new respect for it.
What are your inspirations and what do you aspire to be?
My family is definitely my inspiration. My parents brought me to America leaving their family behind so that I can have the opportunity for the best education. I am currently studying communications at Purdue University specifically going into television broadcasting. I would like to have my own television talk show. However, after a few years of working, I would like to travel to different high schools and middle schools as an inspirational speaker. We need to see more African American students continuing their education after high school. We are allowing ourselves to be underrepresented, but I hope to be that final push that many of these children (and their families) need in order to realize that they need to continue working after receiving that high school diploma.
You are a very beautiful young woman and the people of Eritrea would be proud if you took the title. Why do you want to be crowned Miss Africa United States?
I want to be crowned Miss Africa United States because I believe I have a voice and a gift to be an inspiration to all Africans here in America. Just because we are in the U.S., we do not need to forget our culture, our customs, and our traditions. We need to embrace who we are and use that as a tool to go even further in life and be more successful than we have ever imagined. I want to be that positive role model amongst all the chaotic 'idols' children have these days.
Have you got any beauty tips you would want to share with UGPulse readers?
This is a funny question, because I really don't know if I have any! However, I can say that all women should drink lots and lots of water! Your body needs it and your skin will love you for it! Drinking enough water every day can make your skin so vibrant and healthy! I also promoted healthy work outs! Don't stress yourself and dwell on every negative part of your body because you are always beautiful, and do not let modern society define what beauty is for you!
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