Physical beauty is in the eye of the beholder however, it is not as important as a person’s internal, emotional and spiritual qualities. True beauty comes from the light in the eyes, a natural and genuine smile on the face, and the glow of beauty within that shines through the skin, regardless of your external visage.

How do we achieve the true beauty that comes from within? Education, money or material objects is definitely not the answer. Please don't misunderstand me-----Education is a must with my organization and I strongly encourage it for everyone, however, it does not depict who you are----- It educates our mind and the stimulation encourages us to think, and explore, which allows for growth in development over the uneducated people. Money is great----we all want money and money can buy us a lot of material objects but what it cant buy us is CHARACTER! Make-up, hair extensions, facials nor our wardrobe is the answer either! Regardless how much we spend on those kinds of products, we cannot and will not erase the effects of stress, overwork, sleep through deprivation, poor diet, and (yes!) grudges, hatred, jealousy, envy and unhappiness that show in our faces and mask our natural beauty. You need not compare yourself with anyone else nor should you try to emulate them. There is no need to compete with others. You should only compete with yourself to become a better you. No one can stop your blessings (success) What is meant for you GOD will make sure that you receive it when HE wants you to. Be happy for other people when they become successful or accomplish their goals rather than trying to out do them or over exceed their blessings. Thank GOD everyday for just being here on earth and try to become a better YOU with that being the best that YOU can possibly be!

1.First and foremost, be kind treat people the way you would like to be treated, give when you can without looking for anything in return....Every year let one of your New Years resolution be, becoming a better you. Cherish your family and your culture, be mindful of the choices that you make in life fore some can just be a learning experience and others can be a resilient life long experience. Choose your friends and associates wisely because as bad as we hate to admit it; Birds of a feather DO flock together. Set aside some ME time from work, spouses, kids, friends and school. Feel good about yourself and treat youself like a queen-------if you don't think much of yourself why should anyone else? It's okay to be confident and sure of yourself but on the other hand being overconfident changes your disposition to Cocky and NO one wants to be in the presence of a KNOW IT ALL , self serving, arrogant and obnoxious person. It's NO fun, and it's exhausting AND stressful to the relationship (friendship). It is so easy to look around and find a beautiful person externally, However; The Miss Mahogany Scholarship Foundation task is to make every effort to discover a person that possesses that genuine beauty internally to embody the next Miss Mahogany!

2. Rest-Dark circles under the eyes, the drowsy, “grumpy” look that accompanies lack of rest, and the added stress of getting through the day after a poor night’s sleep detract from our natural beauty. It’s an old rule of thumb that we need eight hours of sleep. We agree, but realize many people are unable to achieve that, and that even eight hours may be insufficient if it is poor quality sleep. The increasing numbers of ads for sleep aids and better beds attest to this. Here are a few hints for a better night’s sleep: a. Set aside the last 30-60 minutes before retiring as “quiet time.” Avoid sugar, caffeine, and alcohol for at least an hour before bed.b. It’s also hard to sleep on a full stomach. Or: c. Soak 30 minutes or more in a hot bath with at least one cup Epsom salts. Drink water and put a tablespoon of safflower or sunflower oil in the water, to counteract the drying effects of the salts.d. A calcium-magnesium tablet before bed will aid sleep.

3. Exercise-There is a few simple practices that almost everyone can fit into the day, will increase energy and the sense of well being, and make us feel and look more beautiful:a. Spend at least 20 minutes each day outdoors. We need fresh air and Vitamin D (from sunlight). b. Yoga or even simple stretching will keep us supple, injury-free, looking and feeling young. Two minutes a day can begin to increase blood flow and ease tension, so we feel and look better almost effortlessly. c. Any kind of exercise that raises the heart rate1 is beneficial to the body and the skin. d. Perspiration is important for eliminating toxins, through exercise, a steam room, sauna, hot tub, or hot bath. A steam bath for the face can cleanse pores and stimulate blood flow, adding natural color and beauty.

4. Peace of mind- Joy, happiness, self-confident, clear-headed, centered—inner states that contribute to outward beauty. Yoga, meditation, and meditative prayer open doors to these states. Our favorite practice: Cultivating a conscious attitude of thankfulness. Picture the beauty in the face of a person who is truly grateful!

5. Avoid toxic exposure- Protect yourself from sun (overexposure to sun is the quickest path to premature aging of the skin!), wind and airborne pollutants. Avoid toxins in personal care products 2 and minimize the numbers of these products you use. Reduce over-the-counter and prescription medications to what is absolutely necessary for your health. These things accumulate in our bodies, sometimes combine to become toxic (synergistic toxicity), and increase our body’s toxic load. We are most beautiful when we are healthy and happy.

6. Nutritional food- A balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, essential fatty acids, and complex carbohydrates--low in saturated fats and simple carbohydrates--is the best possible nutrition for the skin. Drink water! The skin cannot be soft and supple unless the body is well hydrated. Water is also needed to flush toxins from the body and the skin. Often eight glasses of water a day is the first best remedy for acne. Try to avoid soft drinks as much as possible! Carbonation, sugar and artificial sweeteners contribute to skin problems and negatively affect skin texture and color.

*Remember none of us are responsible for our external beauty-------we owe all of that glory to our parents; however, we are responsible for our inner beauty, which will last for eternity and people will remember and continue to speak with high regards about us when we are long gone.

Our outer beauty fades with age and unfortunate life incidents and situations...

Beauty is as Beauty does----This blog was created in honor of the 2007 Miss Mahogany contestants including but not limited to the 2005 - 2006 contestants. We would like to celebrate the beauty of all women .