My name is Manyuan Saidia Reffell. I was born in Monrovia , Liberia and moved to the United States with my mother Miatu Davis just months before the start of the first Liberian civil war (1989–1996) which was followed by the second civil war in 2003. The resulting devastation of these wars has had a profound impact upon my life and subsequently inspired and motivated me to study and earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in International Development Studies with a minor in French in 2005. I recently obtained my first Masters Degree in African Studies with double concentration in Education and Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). During my second year in graduate school, I had the opportunity to serve as intern at the Voice of America Television for Africa (VOA News) in Washington DC and the Society for International Development (SID-Washington).

Having completed my undergraduate and graduate studies, I am focusing on career opportunities in Los Angeles, California where I am currently employed at the Transportation Security Administration, a division in the Department of Homeland Security. In addition to being a model/actress with two agencies based in Hollywood, I am a certified grants writer; a personal trainer and member of the Oasis Christian Center where I volunteer with their Global Mission’s Team to help build schools in developing countries in Africa and Latin America. I am an active member of Reffell Education Foundation for Science, Technology and the Arts (REFSTA), a family charity organization whose mission is to continue to build and improve the education system in West Africa. I have also joined forces with the Niapele Project - Sustainable Refugee Hope on their Continuing Education Initiative to benefit refugee children and give them hope for a sustainable future in post conflict countries like Liberia. With sports being one of my hobbies, I competed as a 400 meter hurdler as part of the NCAA Women's Track and Field Team during my undergraduate career

With all that I have accomplished, my desire to work in Africa for Africa continues to be the passion that drives and keeps me focused in all that I do. I wish to state that I am very proud to be representing the Republic of Liberia and my intentions once I win the crown is to continue forward, utilizing the knowledge and skills that I have acquired not only for Liberia but also to do what is in the best interest of Africa as a whole. I believe that it is up to each individual to do what is in his or her power to ameliorate the conditions that plague this region of the world. It is for this reason that I decided to participate in the Miss Africa USA Pageant. In peace and solidarity I wish to sincerely thank you for your support as I embark on this extraordinary journey.

ENJOY MY MUSIC VIDEO:
"Irresistible" by Nigel Williams starring yours truly, Manyuan Saidia Reffell-Davis

If link does not work, copy and paste this URL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JewD5l8_ERQ