Beauty with a Purpose

Miss World Alexandria Mills with Gracie and her sister Madalyne

Miss World Alexandria Mills and Miss World Africa Emma Wareus travelled together to Buffalo, Western New York to support local organisations and projects that had received help from Variety, The Children's Charity. It was a chance for them to see some of the work that had been achieved through the generous donations of Buffalonians.

Their first stop was the Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo, a major beneficiary of Variety of Buffalo's fundraising programs. Later that afternoon was a visit to the Lt Col Matt Urban Center Youth Program at Polonia Hall and H.O.P.E. Center, a community support centre for inner-city children and families that has received Variety contributions. When interviewed later on WKBW TV, they were joined by County Executive Chris Collins who proclaimed January 13th 2011 Miss World Day in the City of Buffalo and the County of Erie.

At the Buffalo Women & Children's Hospital	Signing autographs at the HOPE Centre
Miss World Africa Emma Wareus shows Botswana on the globe	Miss World at the HOPE Centre

And the fundraising continued with a Mother-Daughter Meet and Greet session at Walden Galleria, and a special gala dinner at Salvatore's Italian Gardens, all proceeds of which will be added to the total at the forthcoming 49th Annual Variety Kids Telethon to be held on 6th March. It was also a chance for 2011 Variety Kids Telethon Celebrity Child Gracie Joyce, who had received care at the Women & Children's Hospital, to meet Alexandria and Emma. To mark the occasion, Alexandria gave little Gracie the honour of wearing the Miss World crown, the symbol of fundraising for "Beauty with a Purpose", and the Miss World sash. It was a very special moment for a very special girl! Alexandria commented: "She had been through so much, yet even during our final evening in Buffalo, she was so full of energy!"

Miss World Africa Emma Wareus and Miss World Alexandria Mills

Gracie wears the Miss World crown