Q & A Interview With Zambia's Mutinta Suuya

Who knows how these things happen? The best African minds are beginning to emerge in Diaspora and, with a remarkable African cultural events taking place all around the world, it is now clear the world has changed a whole lot. From M-Net's Face Of Africa to Miss Africa Canada coupled with related African cultural events in Sweden, Finland, Britain, Germany, Belgium, Australia, and several others spread out all over the Universe, the one that is for sure fascinating is the electric atmosphere of Miss Africa USA which kicked off four years ago in Jonesboro, Georgia.

And on Saturday, November 1, 2008, the beautiful African minds gathered at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, Georgia, for the 4th Annual Miss Africa USA contest and the elegant 18-year-old Mutinta Suuya was one of them; representing her country, Zambia. Born in Lusaka, Zambia and now a sophomore aspiring to be an economist and a lawyer by the time she's done with academics. Mutinta told me a whole lot and what the future holds for her. No doubt, at 18, she's almost there and it is quite amazing how her passion is driving her to the success lane.

She is too much for her age and with her volunteer work in progress her inspiration will definitely help change the African cultural landscape and, people around her develop a deeper understanding of Africa today. She is practically everything, an essayist and you name it.



EXCERPT:

Tell me about yourself

I am an 18 year old College Sophomore currently majoring in Economics in the State of Illinois, and I intend to go to Law School upon completing my Bachelors in Economics. I began attending High School when I was 10 years old and completed at 15. I have managed to maintain a 4.0 G.P.A throughout my college enrollment. In addition, I am an Honors student currently enrolled in the school's Honors program.

Besides being a Lawyer and Economist, I intend to continue modeling and become a Biographer. Writing Biographies is something I would love to do on a professional level because I am fascinated by different people's life stories. It is so interesting to realize that every individual on this planet has a unique story to tell even if they don't realize it.

On the other hand, I enjoy modeling because I have always been interested in fashion and photography. In my college enrollment so far I have received the following awards:

Outstanding Student of the year in 2007-2008 awards due to maintaining a 4.0 G.P.A, Who's Who amongst students in American Colleges and Universities and Lutrell Endowment Foundation Scholarship. I have also been recently nominated for the prestigious Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student laureate Award. It is statewide award in which only one student per school can be nominated for it.

I am member of the following organizations: Phi Theta Kappa Honors society, Student Activity Board, Student writer for School newspaper called NavigatorIn Addition. I am a part time Audio Visual Technician in the Audio Visual Technology department of the school. I was a finalist for the Miss Africa USA 2008 Scholarship and Beauty Pageant, and currently hold the title of Miss Zambia USA 2008. In 2008, I was the School's representative at the Honors Annual Spring Student Research Conference of the Honors Council of the Illinois Region (HCIR) at Western Illinois University in Moline, IL . At this conference I made an oral presentation on a project entitled "Are Biofuels the next best Alternative energy resource?" Not forgetting, I am a featured author in a publication by Elder and Leemuar Publishers called Challenge the Experts.

When you arrived on the shores of the United States, what was the difference between growing up in Lusaka, Zambia and settling in America?

The differences between growing up in Lusaka and settling in America have been interesting learning expiriences. I am very grateful to having been brought up in Lusaka because I learnt so much about the importance of appreciating culture, morals and family life. It has also made me a down to earth person who will always remember where I came from. Settling in America has been a lovely learning experience and opportunity as well. I love the diversity in culture and race found in America. Not forgetting I admire and respect the hardworking ethic and determination instilled in the people that live here.

Let's talk about the beauty contest, the Miss Africa USA recently held in Jonesboro, Georgia. How did you hear about the contest and what motivated you to enter your bid?

I saw and read about the contest online. I decided to enter the contest because I loved the fact that it was celebrating African culture and was acknowledging all the beautiful and talented women found in its continent.

What was the experience like; I mean the fanfare, the contestants, the audience, the panel of judges and organizers that Saturday night you stepped on stage for a shot to the crown?

It was such an amazing experience. In one weekend, I learnt so much about other cultures and greatly enhanced my modeling skills. The audience and judges were awesome. They did an amazing job to help bring the contest to life.

In your leisure time what keeps you busy?

In my leisure time I love reading Biographies, travelling and seeing different historical sites and museums, writing different thoughts on paper, watching movies and documentaries, and most of all listening and watching CNN.

Who is your favorite author?

I actually have two favorite authors, Eric Blair also known as the great George Orwell and Sidney Sheldon. I love George Orwell's works because he was such an intelligent and controversial writer. I admire and respect the fact that he did not think that it was important to go with the mainstream opinion even when it was wrong. He wrote books that were not favored in his time but have become master pieces today. Orwell was generally a powerful writer whose works will continue to endure the test of time.

Sidney Sheldon is a brilliant author who is so entertaining. One thing I noticed about his books is that although Sidney Sheldon was a male author, he usually gave power to the women in them. In almost every book I have read by him, a woman is the main character. Additionally, he was such a great story teller and a legend in his own right.

What's your favorite dish?

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Who is your favorite musician?

Mariah Carey, her voice and lyrics are just amazing. There is something so sincere in the way she sings and delivers her music.

In fashion, who is your favorite designer?

Coco Chanel is my favorite designer. She greatly influenced the fashion industry by her classy yet sophisticated designs. Today, her design label has grown greatly and is worn by so many people across the globe.

what's your wish for Africa since you will be fully engaged in volunteer work?

My wish for Africa is to see it become an economically independent continent. Despite Africa gaining political independence from its colonial masters, it is yet to gain Economical Independence. I believe that Africa is indeed "diamond in Ruff"; it has the potential to become a powerful independent continent both politically and economically.

What area of politics is your interest?

Honestly, I am interested in so many different areas of politics. However, Global Politics is my main interest because I strongly believe that each day the world is becoming more and more connected. We witnessed that with the collapse of the US economy, the Global economy was crumbling too. This simply showed that the political and economical instability of one nation will have an impact on other nations too. In addition, I think it is important for us as Humankind to not only consider ourselves as citizens of a country but of the globe. Thus, this is why global politics my main are of interest.