AVON launches first global online singing/songwriting contest

CEBU, Philippines - In celebration of its 125th anniversary and as a continued commitment to empower women all over the world, Avon launched last December 2 the first-ever global online talent search for women and songwriting competition for men and women dubbed as AVON Voices at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Little Theater.

Avon Philippines President and General Manager Mike Gudgin, as well as company executives from the Asian region, welcomed the members of the media from all over the country to the launch.

Andrea Jung, CEO and Chairman of Avon Products, Inc. in a press statement, said, “For 125 years, Avon has empowered women to find their own unique voices as they work to make their dreams come true. We are thrilled to now give women the opportunity to share their voice, their song and their story through this unprecedented global talent search. Avon Voices will celebrate Avon’s heritage and our future, as we raise women up through beauty, inspiration and song.”

The Avon Voices activities will center on its official website, www.AvonVoices.com, which went live last December 1. There are three ways to participate in the Avon Voices global community – sing, vote and write.

Avon invites women to participate in the online singing talent search by choosing a song from the website and uploading a submission video until February 13, 2011 at AvonVoices.com. Those who are not into singing can be a talent scout and recruit the talented people they know, watch the videos and vote for their favorite contender to help decide the outcome. The search will be narrowed down four times by a combination of online voting and judges’ scores from April through October next year. Those who are into songwriting meanwhile, both men and women, can join the songwriting competition by writing an original song that inspires or shares hope and optimism with the world. Submission of a digital file and lyric sheet at the website will be between May 20, 2011 to July 1, 2011.

Music artists from all over the world have expressed their support for the movement and have agreed to be the judges for the competition. Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield, composer Diane Warren, Grammy award-winning singer/composer and music producer David Pack, Columbian singing star Maia and our very own Lea Salonga are among the judges for the competition.

“What I want is for whoever plans to enter to find their own voice. It’s figuring out who you are and not try to shoehorn yourself into a voice or style that you are not comfortable with,” said Ms. Salonga when asked for her advice to those who want to join the talent search. As for those who will be voting, she said that online voters should try to be objective. “Look for somebody who obviously CAN sing. It’s not just somebody who has talent but somebody who has a spark, a special something that has stardom written all over it. From the moment the person opens her mouth, I want to feel like I was hit by a sledgehammer, that’s what I want,” she added.

To learn more about Avon Voices, visit www.avonvoices.com, or follow Avon on Facebook (www.facebook.com/avonvoices) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/avonvoices).