Abena Appiah

Abena Appiah
Born
Evelyn Abena Akuaba Appiah

(1993-06-02) June 2, 1993 (age 31)
Accra, Ghana
EducationRadford University College
Fashion
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleTop 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 colorBlack
Eye colorBrown
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)

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]

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 Ghana Ghana Accra, Ghana
Top Model of the World 2013[19] Unplaced Egypt Red Sea, Egypt Ghana Ghana
Miss Universe Ghana 2014 Winner Ghana Accra, Ghana Ghana Accra, Ghana
Miss Universe 2014 Unplaced  Florida, United States Ghana Ghana
Queen Beauty Universe 2016[20] Winner  Spain Ghana 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 Ghana Accra, Ghana Ghana Accra, Ghana
Miss Earth 2019 Top 20 Philippines 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 Ghana
Miss Grand USA 2020 Appointed  New York  New York
Miss Grand International 2020 Winner Thailand Bangkok, Thailand Top 20 – Best in Swimsuit
Top 20 – How to eat Thai food in 2-minute Challenge 		United States 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

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Miss USA is first Black contender to win Miss Grand International crown". The Philippine Star. March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "'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.
  7. ^ "Abena Akuaba Appiah Songs on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "Get to know USA's Miss Grand International Abena Akuaba Appiah". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Miss Grand International Abena Appiah has message to Filipino bashers". ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  11. ^ "Miss Earth Ghana becomes an instant viral sensation with another comedic one-liner". News24. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  12. ^ "Who is Miss Earth Ghana 2019 Evelyn Abena Appiah?". Rappler. October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Abena wins Queen Beauty Universe". Graphic Showbiz. October 10, 2016. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  20. ^ "Abena wins Queen Beauty Universe". Africulture. October 2016. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  21. ^ a b c "Abena Akuaba". IMDb. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ ""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.
  24. ^ "A Taste of Sin". IMDb. 2023. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  25. ^ 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.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abena Appiah.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss Grand International
2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Nevada Emily Irene Delgado
 Miss Grand USA
2020 		Succeeded by
North Carolina Madison Callaghan
Preceded by
Belvy Naa
 Miss Earth Ghana
2019 		Succeeded by
Emma Djentuh
Preceded by Miss Universe Ghana
2014 		Succeeded by