Celi Marie Dean, the 2006 USA Miss Black, last Friday visited The Gambia for an advanced preparation to host the next USA Miss Black in The Gambia.

The 21-year-old is a university student in the United States of America studying Family Social Science.

During her short stay in the country, Celi Marie Dean, accompanied by Natalie Williams, visited Bakau Lower Basic School to have first-hand experience of school facilities in the country.

In her brief remarks at the school, the USA Miss Black said that one of her primary objectives for visiting The Gambia was to see how best they could help to improve the education sector in the country, adding that education is the key to success.

Ms Celi also said 42 contestants are expected in The Gambia in three months’ time to contest the next USA Miss Black.

“This is my first time of visiting The Gambia and I love The Gambia so much,” she said. 

Alhagie M.J. Dukuray, the Principal of Bakau Lower Basic School, took Ms Dean and her delegation around the school to see its facilities.

He showed them the school library and the computers donated to the school by a British friend of the school but said some of the computers have gone out of use.

Mr Dukuray thanked Ms Dean and her team for visiting the school and expressed hope to see them again when they paid another visit to The Gambia.