End of Summer 2011.

What an amazing summer I have had!

Academically, my summer began by taking the MCAT and is ending with my applying to medical school. The application process is a year process of primary apps, secondary apps then an interview round. I will thus be entering medical school in the fall of 2012..ill keep ya posted!

(summer day, hanging out in SoHo NYC)


Besides that I moved out of LA this summer! I had lived there for 8-9years and this year I packed...well mostly sold...all my stuff and moved back out east. I have been back and forth between NYC, the Hamptons and Maryland all summer and I am loving it.

(Girl's night out with my great friends from UCLA Julia and Ophelia)





(some of my best friends from my days at UCLA and I hanging out in Central Park)



I got a chance to attend NY Mercedes Benz Fashion week!!It was a dream come true! I got a sneak peek at the spring 2012 collections and you can see my experience on the new YouTube video I just posted on my channel www.YouTube.com/NanaMeriwether! I made friends with one of the hottest designers Max Azria who designs for BCBG and Herve Leger! He invited me to a dinner and 2 events he threw and I had the best time mingling with New York's fashion elite! He and his wife are so nice and their work is brilliant!


(At a private event by Max Azria to preview his Spring 2012 collection)





(from the Supima show at NYFW hosted by Rachel Zoe)






(loving this look by Carlos Miele at NYFW Spring 2012..I would so rock this red pant suit, he was one of my favs that week!)





I have been meeting so many great people in NYC and the DC area and I know this fall is bound to be a very memorable one filled with events anddddd im running for Miss Maryland in about a month!! so excited! Tomorrow is actually orientation and I get to meet all the stunning girls:) Competition weekend is October 28-30.


In November, I will be taking a trip to Southern Africa to check on some of the amazing projects The Meriwether Foundation has going on. We are about to open a clinic and the preschool we were opening in Zitha Village is now officially open! Not only are we providing classes for children, we have implemented a nutritional program where the students can get meals that include vegetables and goods from the organic garden we also started! I can't wait to see the kids and brainstorm new projects for Zitha Village and the other rural towns we support in now 6 countries! If you would like more information on how you can help please email Missions@MeriwetherFoundation.org....you can also check out my YouTube Channel for a video highlighting some of the projects we support.

(Students and one of our volunteers in the preschool we built in Zitha Village!)



(Organic garden program we started to help make the children and villagers diet more substantial)

(The clinic The Meriwether Foundation is about to open)

(cannot wait to go and visit, who's with me!? Leaving in November, let me know if you would like to volunteer and travel or donate to our many projects! Missions@MeriwetherFoundation.org)

XO

Summer 2011.

What a difference 2 years makes!! I am finally done my Post Baccalaureate Premed program at USC. As many of you know I did my undergraduate at UCLA where I graduated with a degree in Political Science with a focus in International Relations. After graduating, I played professional volleyball in Puerto Rico and trained a little bit for the Olympics. Following that I took a life changing trip with my father, an emergency room physician, to Zimbabwe and South Africa. For 3 months I was exposed to extreme poverty and insufficient health care systems. I took the trip in the spring and was to enter law school that fall. As soon as I got back to the states however, I decided to withdraw my admittance and enter the Post Bacc program at USC.



(My father (without a white jacket) and a few of the 11 medical students our foundation(The Meriwether Foundation) assists financially at the University of Zambia Medical School. On this day they were officially informed that they had completed their medical school training and were officially Medical Doctors!)


It has been 2 years of biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, calculus, MCAT prep and volunteering at USC. I am done!! I took the MCAT about a month ago and am in the midst of applying to medical school. Med school apps are like no other! Applying is a year long process of preliminary and secondary applications then there is an interview round. There is a lot of writing and sitting in coffee shops, but I am loving my summer so far! After I apply I will have 4 years of medical school till I become a medical doctor! Following that I will have to specialize and enter a residency. Not sure yet, but I have a feeling I am following in the footsteps of my father. After shadowing doctors at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills, I fell in love with trauma medicine.




After finishing at USC I moved back to the east coast. I am back in Maryland(the state where I grew up in, I went to The Sidwell Friends School from K-12th grade) and couldn’t be happier. A lot of my high school friends and friends in general live in New York so I frequently have taken the Amtrak up to visit. Public transportation on the east coast is amazingly efficient, easy and affordable. I am loving the summer nights of eating out and laughing with new and old friends!! In fact I am off to the Hamptons again this weekend! Cant wait!


('The Canal near my house in Potomac Maryland. I often workout/go on runs with my mom...well if it's not too hot and humid that is!)



(I recently got to go to my first Yankees game and what a game it was! One of my friends invited me and I got to sit in the front row!! It was right before Jeter's 3000th!)


(Beautiful Montauk up in the Hamptons!! So relaxing and beautiful! If you guys are ever out make sure to try out South Edison, an amazing restaurant 2 blocks from the ocean!mmm craving some oysters right now)


With my year ‘off’ I plan on first and foremost relaxing and taking the summer off. School has been non stop and it’s nice to travel and explore with no class or lab. Come fall I plan on traveling to visit the projects my foundation, The Meriwether Foundation, supports in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa. Following I plan on finding a job (probably in research) and I have some peripheral classes like genetics and biochemistry to take!


(This month a team of volunteers departed to several of The Meriwether Foundation projects in South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This picture is of our project in Zitha village in South Africa. One of the daily activities for The Meriwether Foundation volunteers is to assist with the feeding program we initiated a couple of years ago. If you would like to become a volunteer on our next trip email us at Missions@MeriwetherFoundation.org)


I am also running for Miss Maryland USA 2012! It is my final year and I cannot wait to give it all I got. I have begun training and am having so much fun with it! I’m focused but definitely enjoying the ride. Stay tuned on updates about what gown I plan on rocking! I got the chance to go to Miss USA 2011 in Las Vegas to watch the beautiful Alyssa Campanella win the crown. On my youtube channel make sure to check out the new video of my trip to the big show! www.youtube.com/NanaMeriwether
Hope you all have a great summer!



(At Miss USA!! As a guest of the official Miss USA swimsuit sponsor, Kandy Wrappers Swimwear, I got to sit in some amazing seats! Thank you Kandy Wrappers!!)

Why I Do Pageants???

Tonight I got a comment on my facebook pertaining to why I do pageants and the conversation is posted below. I love hearing different viewpoints and am so glad my friend brought it up! I think its fantastic we have public forums to discuss things so we can all better understand each other and where we all are coming from! If any of you ever have any questions feel free to facebook me or find me on twitter.

I have found filling my life with diverse, seemingly unrelated goals has developed me a unique individual. I am blessed I have had the athletic ability to pursue volleyball at a high level nationally and internationally. I am blessed to be a full enough package to have competed in the toughest state pageant in the USA and been relatively successful. I am blessed to have had the ambition, compassion and global prespective to start an international charitable non profit organization. I am further and finally blessed to have the ability to devote myself to a career in health as I pursue goals to one day become a doctor.

I love hearing input from people who just know me as a volleyball player, or just a student, or just pageant girl etc because I love letting people know there is so much more to me and there can be so much more to anyone if you set a goal and put your mind to it!

-----
(background: she's a good friend from back when I used to play volleyball for UCLA)

My friend: Nana, You"re so much more than Miss USA! Really, I'm sorry but is that what you want out-of life? Your're so much more..

Me: hi! I understand where you are coming from. I think there are alot of stereotypes about pageants out there that are just not true. I have learned, grown and developed more as a person than I did playing volleyball and as you know with volleyball I grew and matured a whole lot! It takes so much to become and be a titleholder, but unfortunately there are stereotypes about pageants that dont allow people to truly understand how positively impactful competing can be for a woman. I have met the smartest, most confident, ambitious women competing vs. any other part of my life.

It takes a lot to aspire to something much bigger than yourself and to add you do it in front of millions of people around the world. That is what it is to want to become a miss usa, developing yourself to something way bigger than you can imagine while having to sometimes withstand intense setback, negativity and criticism... it is in a nutshell the American dream.

This is not the ONLY thing I want out of my life, there are many parts to me and I seek a balance everyday to fulfill each aspiration. I want to be a doctor, I want to develop my non profit even further, I want to have a family etc this is just a chapter in my life just like playing volleyball was.

Its hard for people from each phase of my life to understand the other. For example, I know its hard for alot of volleyball people to understand my desire to compete for pageants or to understand my desire to seek higher education, but there's also more to life than just pursuing a sport too. I think now adays, especially for women, there's more to life than just being one thing. We have become 'renaissance women' seeking careers and goals and not just staying home..I think thats something special that should be celebrated no matter what form its in.

I have found athletics and pageantry to have more in common with each other than expected and its sad alot of people judge one and the other. All I can say is I love surprising people and I love having the unique opportunity to have more to my name than just a volleyball player or just a student or just a humanitarian or just a pageant girl. I hope that clears things.


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Oooo The Memories.

It has been 2 years and I am in my last set of finals before I complete my Post Baccalaureate Premed program at USC!!! Come May 20th I will be taking the MCAT and by June 1st I will begin the Medical School application process. It is very competitive and the cycle of applying takes about a year. I am ready for the challenge and new chapter in my life!

Anyway in the midst of all this studying, I found myself browsing through old pictures of all the years I have competed in the Miss USA system. From winning Miss Malibu, to representing the city of Beverly Hills, to capturing the title of Miss Los Angeles County this year, I have had a great time being a titleholder, meeting new people, being active in my community and competing at Miss California USA! I am excited for this fall and the next round of state competition! Enjoy the pics and wish me luck on finals!xo

Official Miss Los Angeles County Photo Shoot

Hope you enjoy this video! I had a little photo shoot with my teen Monique about a month ago! We had a good time and got some great shots!

Miss Los Angeles USA is a preliminary to the Miss California USA pageant which is further a preliminary to Donald Trump's Miss USA and Miss Universe! Miss USA is in Las Vegas this summer and I am so excited to be traveling to attend the event with 10 of the most beautiful girls in the country. A group of us who compete in different states from Texas to Colorado to Kansas to Maryland etc are excited to be sharing a suite for the whole weekend of events! Make sure to tune in to my twitter for updates and pics:)

THE GIRLS: Kym Smith, Annilie Hastey, Cierra Jackson, Ariel Wilson, Brittany Larson, Alex Miller, Kathryn Dunn, Kelly Bischoff, Ashley Rene' Baumgartner

It's best to check the video out on my youtube channel and while you're there, make sure to stop by all my other videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/NanaMeriwether

You can also follow me on twitter for updates on what I am doing this spring! http://twitter.com/NanaMeriwether

Happy Holidays!

On behalf of the Meriwether Foundation, I would like to express a sincere thank you to all 2010 community volunteers and contributors!

(Swaziland)



I am so grateful to report that the scale of our work is growing rapidly. From planning to open 2 new medical clinics in Zambia and Zimbabwe to delivering a record number of medical supplies, books, agricultural goods, clothing, school supplies etc, our projects continue to look to better the lives of so many in rural Southern Africa.

(Lambo Village, Zimbabwe)








(Zitha Village, South Africa)


I invite anyone inspired to make a difference this holiday season and in 2011 to help sponsor one of our many programs or join in one of our volunteer trips to Southern Africa scheduled throughout the year. Also check out our 2011 raffle(details below) to win an exclusive Southern Africa Vacation for two!

(Victoria Falls, Zambia)




(Cape Point, South Africa)



I wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year!
(Table Bay Mountain: Cape Town, South Africa)


Nana Meriwether
Co-Founder and Director

Wilhelm D. Meriwether; MD, MPH
President and Medical Director

Nomvimbi Meriwether; JD, MBA
Program Director

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Win Southern Africa Vacation For 2 Travelers and Make a Difference at the Same Time: Join Our 2011 Raffle!

Raffle Ticket Cost: $100.00

Grand Prize: International and Regional Africa economy class air­fare for 2 travelers aboard South African Airways from Washington Dulles International Airport or JFK International Airport; ground transportation in Africa; 5 nights in Cape Town at Table Bay Hotel; full day tour of the Cape Point including Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Penguin Colony at Boulder Beach and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens; full day wine tasting and tour of the wineries; cruise to Robben Island to view Nelson Mandela’s cell; full day Cape Town city orientation and township tour; interactive African drum­ming and cultural experience; 3 nights safari and accommodation at a private game reserve in the world renowned Kruger National Park area; volunteer service at the village; 2 nights in Johannesburg at Michelangelo Hotel; full day tour of Soweto and the Apartheid Mu­seum; 3 nights at Royal Livingstone Hotel in Victoria Falls Zambia; tour of the Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world; day river safari cruise at Chobe National Park in Botswana; elephant ride safari along the mighty Zambezi River.



The Raffle is conducted by the Meriwether Foundation, Inc.. The Raffle proceeds will benefit the Foundation’s ongoing charitable programs in Africa. For the Raffle Official Rules and purchase of Raffle Tickets download the Raffle Form at: www.MeriwetherFoundation.org or email us at: missions@meriwetherfoundation.org




Meriwether Foundation, Inc.
501 ( c ) ( 3 ) International Non-Profit Charitable Organization










Questions or comments? E-mail us at missions@meriwetherfoundation.org or call us at 301-880-0535
Mailing address: 9213 Pegasus Ct. Potomac MD 20854
Like Us on Facebook and Follow Us on Twitter!

Fall 2010: Miss California, Duke University and New York!

I have had such a great month!! In early October I ran for Miss Los Angeles County run by Toay Ortiz. Anyone looking for more experience on stage before state/Miss California and a chance to hold a local title that comes with making fabulous appearances in southern California should do a prelim. Toay runs about 5 of them including Miss Hollywood this upcoming February 2011! With Toay and her fabulous team, I am readying for Miss California in just a couple of weeks. We have been gown, wardrobe, swimsuit, makeup etc shopping and I am having a blast with Toay and her team of experts! This week we begin interview and walking training! I cannot wait to make Toay Productions proud at state. (www.toayproductions.com)


(Miss Los Angeles County Weekend before my interview and backstage before the show)




The weekend right after Miss Los Angeles County was Miss California Orientation weekend at the fabulous Riviera Hotel in Palms Springs. It was a weekend full of sessions and photoshoots all in preparation for finals weekend in November. We got to take our official Miss California 2011 Contestant pictures with Benizo!(=an amazing photographer).
(The beautiful Riviera Hotel in Palms Springs, practicing the look I almost did for my official shoot with Benizo(pardon me, I am sans makeup), and finally the look I decided on for my official photo for Miss Ca 2011!)




Besides all of that I got to go on an east coast trip about 2 weeks ago! The weekend started in Maryland where I met up with my parents. We took a road trip to North Carolina…may I just say, so glad I’m not an only child! haha just kidding it was great to spend time with them, especially my dad who I see maybe twice a year because he is always working or in Africa volunteering his time and services.



We went to Duke University where it was my dad’s annual Medical School Alumni reunion. I attended Duke University before transferring to UCLA and it was my first time back since my freshman year of college back in 2003 (I’m old). It was a special Alumni reunion that weekend because the Duke Medical School had an afternoon celebration kicking off construction for the new hospital they are building. My dad was the first African American to attend Duke University, so it was an honor to walk around campus with him knowing what doors he opened for the prestigious university. So many med students came to shake his hand in admiration and thanks and it re-inspired me to keep pursuing my dream to be just like him when I am older.


(Duke University has the most amazing botanical gardens. My mom and I took a walk through them while my dad mingled with his class of 1967)

After Duke, I flew to New York! I can definitely see myself living in NY..hopefully with a move in date around May 2011 ;) It is such an amazing city.


I got there on a Friday night and immediately went to dinner at MPD a new restaurant in the Meat Packing District. During dinner everyone in the restaurant started dancing and my table ended up eating our dessert mid dance to Lady Gaga , it was a blast! The next day I took a walk through SoHo(where I was staying) and had brunch at the Mercer Hotel. I got to see a show too! I saw Jersey Boys! What an amazing cast and production, the music was awesome!


That Saturday night we had dinner at The Lion. The atmosphere and food were fabulous, I hope to go back..but probably won’t be able to get a reservation again :( After dinner we went to Tao for Kim Kardashian’s 30th Birthday party. We of course danced the night away, it was a great time.


(Forgot to take pics at Tao, but everyone always says I look like Ciara so this picture will do!)


The next day, Sunday, was a day full of shopping and walking the city. I was on the look out for a Miss California gown and wardrobe. Blessed with amazing weather, I decided to end my afternoon of shopping with a stroll through central park. I had a great time in New York and cannot wait to get back.


I have so much to look forward to. Miss California is in about 3 weeks and I am having fun preparing. Although a little stressful at times because I am balancing school and starting MCAT classes on Monday, multitasking and being busy 24/7 is what I live for. Ever since my student athlete days at UCLA, I have learned how to juggle my many different ventures all at once. I guess it’s genetic..my dad has lived so many lives in one from being a world class athlete to a world class doctor and humanitarian, I guess I am just trying to be half the person he is!


REMEMBER TO FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!Especially during this exciting time as I prep for Miss California 2011! Thanks and see ya next time!




(more pics from Miss California Orientation in Palms Springs. In between sessions I would run back to my hotel room to get some Organic Chemistry studying in. And Also a pic of some of my new friends! Miss California this year has the highest number of contestants ever in history, very competitive!..on that note off to hit the gym!)