U.S. Pageant Winner On Her Cameroon Roots, Work In Ghana And Fashion’s Ability To Connect Cultures

Reflecting on her Cameroon ancestry and fashion’s ability to connect cultures at the China Institute of America’s Centennial Grand Fashion Gala in New York, she tells FORBES AFRICA: “What’s so beautiful about fashion is the way that it unites people across cultures, across differences… We all may speak different languages, but when you see a fashion piece that excites us all, it doesn’t require communication. It’s something we share—the beauty of art.”

Kelley, 31, attended the black-tie gala on September 8, where Vera Wang, Jason Wu, Grace Chen, Yue-Sai Kan, Lynn Chen-Zhang, Vivienne Tam, Guo Pei and Fern Mallis among others, celebrated the China Institute’s 100th anniversary and the international influence of Chinese fashion.