(Los Angeles, CA) – Actress Erica Gimpel, best known for her roles on Profiler, ER, and Fame is this year’s host for the 29th  Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant (LMAA). The event will take place on Sunday, August 6, 2023, at 3 PM, Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Celebrity Judges will be announced soon.

Producer/Choreographer, Lisa Ruffin, and Founder of Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant emphasized “Little Miss African American (LMAA) is a first and foremost an educational program cleverly disguised in a pageant format whose mission is “dedicated to the intellectual success of young African-American girls”. 

For the past 29 years, dozens of girls between the ages of 6 and 12 years old have participated in this program, hundreds of scholarships have been awarded, and lasting memories have been created for these young Academic and intellectual princesses. While some of them come from strong supportive families, the majority of them come from under-served, single-family homes.  The pageant provides an early introduction to the arts and training in public speaking while promoting individual creativity and stimulating a heightened cultural understanding.

This year’s event will include a group of smart and talented girls from diverse economic backgrounds, some who had never experienced being a “Princess” or have even owned a dress before, and who were most in need of the LMAA’s core guideline of “Confidence, Awareness, and Pride.” It is LMAA’s hope to help create some incredible lasting memories for these young ladies.  The pageant will award over $10,000 in scholarships and prizes this year.

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About Lisa Ruffin & Little Miss African American Scholar Pageant

Lisa Ruffin created and implemented Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant, the longest-running scholarship pageant for young girls, between the ages of 6-12 years old have participated in this program, hundreds of scholarships have been awarded, and lasting memories have been created for these young Academic and intellectual princesses.  While some of them come from strong supportive families, the majority of them come from under-served, single-family homes.  The pageant provides an early introduction to the arts and training in public speaking while promoting individual creativity and stimulating a heightened cultural understanding. For more information visit our website: www.littlemissafricanamerican.org and Follow us on Facebook- Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant, Twitter, and Instagram @LMAApageant.

Creator and Founder Lisa Ruffin is a multi-talented performer and award-winning choreographer. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She attended The Juilliard School in New York City. Lisa has performed and choreographed in over 20 countries.

Ruffin’s choreography credits include Televisions, “Moesha”, “The Steve Harvey Show”, and The NAACP ACT-SO Awards. Lisa has worked with Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, James Brown, George Clinton, and Rodney Cromwell, just to name a few. Lisa returned to her theatrical roots last year and decided to share her creative talents at the University of Southern California in the Musical Theatre Department. Lisa was honored to work at the University of Southern California’s “Spring Awaking” as the Choreographer and Intimacy Coordinator. Lisa started the beginning of this year by choreographing “SEIZE THE KING” at the University of Southern California.

If you want to learn more about Lisa,  you can visit her website at LisaRuffin.com.

 

Contact:         For RSVP Coverage, interviews, photos, or information.

                        Edna Sims, Owner, ESP Public Relations

                        310.770.8117 ~ [email protected]