The Republic of Gambia, West Africa will play host to the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant from May 24, 2007 - June 3, 2007. This year's theme is “A Royal Journey Back to our Roots.” His Excellency President Yahya A.J. Jammeh is the Honorary Chair and official host of the pageant.

The Republic of the Gambia has a population of 1.5 million. Their official language is English and The Gambia is the smallest country on the mainland of Africa.

On Saturday, June 2, a celebrity panel of judges will determine the winner of the “2007 Miss Black USA” crown. The winner will also receive an academic scholarship along with a host of other prizes. The reigning Miss Black U.S.A. Celi Marie Dean, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Minnesota, will relinquish her crown to the winner.

The pageant is also raising awareness of diabetes, which is the number one disease affecting people of Gambia. The Miss Black U.S.A. Pageant is sponsoring the Gambia Diabetes Awareness Campaign in conjunction with the national pageant.

Travis Winkey, International Fashion guru, will act as producer and creative director of the pageant. Former Miss Black USA 1996 Dawn Moss is executive producer of the pageant, and the reason Winkey is involved in such a wonderful and exciting pageant.

“I encouraged Dawn to get the Miss Black USA franchise in New Jersey, because she was a past queen. Dawn was one of the main people in my studio. She got the franchise in New Jersey and asked me to come up and direct it for her. The New Jersey pageant was an overwhelming success. The success of her New Jersey pageant was one of the reasons she was asked to be the executive producer of the National Pageant in The Gambia,” says Winkey. “Hopefully this pageant will be wonderful and show the wonderful things the Miss Black USA pageant is doing.”

Winkey says that the president of The Gambia is flying over 40 girls to The Gambia, as well as his staff from Baltimore, some of Dawn's staff in New Jersey, and the founder of the pageant's staff.

Winkey has been in the fashion industry for over 30 years and it has taken him all over the world.

“I have been going back and forth overseas for the last 20 years. This is my first time in Gambia, but I have been to Africa five or six times. I have been dealing with countries all over the world for a long time, and I know what it is like to do something out of the country. It bridges our two countries with things that are happening in Africa with the United States. The things that it can do for Baltimore, Maryland can be wonderful. It will almost be like a sister country, so many things can come out of this,” Winkey said.

Winkey stressed that his job starts the minute they hit the ground in Gambia. The contestants will participate in activities all over the country, along with fulfilling their obligations to the pageant.

“Everyday there will be rehearsals and the girls going out meeting people in The Gambia. They will go to schools, special sites in The Gambia. They will learn routines, make speeches, do photo shoots all over The Gambia. It is our job to bridge that gap. It is not just going into tour sites, but going inside the country. We want to go to some schools and talk to kids, so they can see what the people from the United States are like,” said Winkey.

The special stage used in the pageant is being constructed on a computer by one of Winkey's partners, Henry Johnson. There will be about 25 people going to The Gambia to help make sure the show goes off without a hitch.

''This is really a big deal. It is a first. The Gambia has never had a project this big in their country.”

Winkey discussed how people that came from his studio and trained under him are now hiring him for jobs. “What is wonderful is that now, people that I have trained are now hiring me for jobs,” laughed Winkey. “I strongly believe in entrepreneurship. Personally, I know a good 40 to 50 people who have come out of our studio and opened businesses or have a relationship with someone who has worked under us.”

Winkey is excited to bring along Chyna Lawrence, Zinah Brown and Gail Hemphill Danik from his studio to The Gambia.

People like actress Jada Pinkett Smith, state Senator Catherine Pugh, actress/comedienne Mo'Nique, Clarence Bishop, and Fred Mason came out of Winkey's studio. “Modeling is a stepping stone for other things.”

Citations and awards are being sent over to Gambia from the mayor, city council president and possible the governor in honor of Baltimore's participation in the Miss Black USA pageant.

“I am excited to being going to The Gambia, we are doing some exciting things over there. A lot of the girls from across the country, I will be meeting them for the very first time. We are going to direct, choreograph and produce are really great pageant,” says Winkey.

The Miss Black USA pageant will be simulcast throughout the continent of Africa. It can be seen here in the US at a later date.