NEW YORK, April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Make your voice
count! Starting tomorrow, everyone around the world is
invited to vote for their favorite Contenders in Avon Voices,
Avon's first-ever global singing
talent search for women. Over 175 Contenders, from more than
50 countries - including Avon
Representatives - have just completed professional recording
sessions in Nashville,
Paris, Hong Kong and Rio, and their performance
videos will be available starting tomorrow for viewing and voting
at AvonVoices.com. Ultimately, the public vote and the vote
of the celebrity judging panel will determine two women – one an
Avon Representative – who will
receive an opportunity to record a professionally-produced
album.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release,
please click:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/45814-avon-voices/
The panel of music luminaries on the celebrity judging panel
include: Fergie, six-time Grammy award winner; Diane Warren, legendary songwriter; Natasha Bedingfield, Grammy nominated
singer/songwriter; Lea Salonga,
Filipina singer and actress; Valeriya, Russian sensation; Delta
Goodrem, Australian Artist of the Decade; Sheila E., breakthrough,
Grammy-nominated female percussionist; David Pack, Grammy award-winning singer/composer
and music producer; Diego Torres,
Grammy nominated singer/composer; Ivete Sangalo, Brazil's biggest pop star; and Maia, Colombian
singing star.
Up to 100 Contenders will advance to the next round and up to 25
Semi-Finalists will be selected in Round Three. The program will
culminate later in the Fall, when up to 10 Finalists will compete
for the coveted final two winning spots.
To learn more about all the Round 1 Contenders, please visit
http://www.avonvoices.com
Launched in celebration of the company's 125th anniversary, Avon
Voices has attracted over one million visitors from 190 countries
to the AvonVoices.com community. The Contenders were selected
from a group of more than 6,000 from 62 countries who began
submitting videos in December.
"These talented women sing straight from the heart – their
voices and their stories will be an inspiration to people around
the world. Avon Voices is more than a singing competition, it
is a celebration," says Joe Billone.
"For 125 years, the mission of Avon has always been about giving women an
opportunity to make their dreams come true - and Avon Voices is
delivering on this promise."
Global Anthem / Help support the Cause
At the conclusion of the program, the global finalists,
alongside many of the Avon Voices celebrity judges, will record an
Anthem written by Diane Warren, that
will debut live at the Avon Foundation for Women Annual Gala in
New York City this Fall, during
which time the winners will be announced. The Anthem will be
available for purchase in certain countries at
http://www.avonvoices.com and http://www.studioXOXO.com. "Shoot for
the Stars," written and sung by Natasha
Bedingfield, "Until You Love You," penned by Diane Warren, produced by David Pack and sung by Valeriya, and other
recordings by our Avon Voices Judges and additional artists are
also currently available for purchase in the United States. A percentage of the
purchase price of all recordings will help advance the Avon
Foundation for Women's global campaign to end violence against
women and girls. To date, Avon global philanthropy has raised and
awarded more than $30 million
directed to domestic and gender violence awareness, education,
direct services and prevention programs.
Register Now
The program's official website – AvonVoices.com – is open
for registration and features information about the year-long
program. Anyone can view the videos, but only those
registered can vote. Features of the community:
- View and Vote: Watch Contender videos, as well as all
global submission videos from around the world. Watch the
Round 1 professionally produced videos and vote for your favorite
to help choose the winner. From April through October, the search
will be narrowed down four times by a combination of online public
voting and judges' scores.
- Write: Beginning May 20,
both women and men may enter the Songwriting Competition. Write an
original song that inspires or shares hope and optimism with the
world. Simply submit a digital file, digital recording of the song
and lyric sheet at AvonVoices.com (between May 20, 2011 and July 1,
2011).
About Avon Products, Inc.
Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty
company, with over $10 billion in
annual revenue. As the world's largest direct seller,
Avon markets to women in more than
100 countries through approximately 6.5 million active independent
Avon Sales Representatives. Avon's product line includes
beauty products, as well as fashion and home products, and features
such well-recognized brand names as Avon Color, Anew,
Skin-So-Soft, Advance Techniques, Avon Naturals, and
Mark. Learn more about Avon and its products at
www.avoncompany.com
About Avon Foundation for Women
The Avon Foundation for Women, the world's largest
corporate-affiliated philanthropy focused on issues that matter
most to women, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women.
Through 2010, Avon global
philanthropy has donated more than $800
million in more than 50 countries for causes most important
to women. Today, Avon philanthropy
focuses its funding on breast cancer research and access to care
through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and efforts to reduce
domestic and gender violence through its Speak Out Against Domestic
Violence program. Avon also
responds generously to provide support for relief and recovery
efforts in times of major natural disasters and emergencies.
To learn more about Avon Voices, go to http://www.avonvoices.com
or http://www.multivu.com/players/English/45814-avon-voices or
follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/avonvoices) and
Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/avonvoices).
SOURCE Avon Products, Inc.