Germany Kent Biography

Germany Kent (born Evelyn Palmer on July 29, 1975) is an American media personality, former beauty queen, businesswoman, voice-over talent, model, actress, and philanthropist.

Early life and education

Born in Greenville, Mississippi, Kent is the daughter of Lula Palmer, a businesswoman and politician, and Charles Palmer, a retired school administrator and disc jockey. She graduated from North Panola High School in Sardis, Mississippi, where she served as a cheerleader, band majorette and editor of her school newspaper, and was voted to the Homecoming Court each of her four years. She was voted Miss North Panola High School her senior year, and was the Prom Queen. After graduating from high school, Kent entered Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi where she majored in Journalism and Public Relations. There, she was voted Freshman Class President and was a Homecoming Maid. She subsequently transferred to Mississippi State University where she earned a bachelor's degree. While at MSU, Kent become the first African-American woman to be voted to the Student Association, serving as the Attorney General.

Kent was inducted into the Lambda Eta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. During her time as an undergraduate, she completed two marketing internships, both as VIP tour guides: once at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and again at the Grand Canyon in Flagstaff, Arizona. Kent was accepted into the public relations program at The University of Alabama's graduate school, where she received her Master of Arts degree.

Career

After college, Germany worked briefly at the University of Tennessee as a Resident Manager and then at the University of Houston as an Area Coordinator. She subsequently worked for MetLife as a Recruiting Manager and Human Resources Manager. She has also been a private business consultant, has worked with Realtors in the staging process, flipping investment properties, and was employed as the Director of Human Resources at Starwood Luxury Brand Hotels before moving to Los Angeles, California in 2011.

Germany Kent's transition into the entertainment industry was inspired by a friend who advised her she should be in television commercials. Kent successfully landed the very first commercial role for which she auditioned"?for AT&T"?and would thereafter book more than a hundred additional entertainment jobs in 2012 and 2013, including a number of nationally broadcast television commercials, with spots for Coors Light, Verizon, and NIKE, in addition to a variety of regional advertisements. She engages in a wide range of modeling work including print, promotional, and runway. She has said that her stage name, Germany Kent, arrived to her in a dream.

In 2013, she produced videos featuring world-renowned Chef Philippe Chow and New York Times bestselling author Hill Harper. The same year, she also served as a Media Correspondent for Real TV Films for the Celebrity World Challenge Golf Championship in Calabasas, California benefiting ProCon.org and The March of Dimes. Throughout her life and career, Kent has been significantly involved in non-profit and civic organizations, and her charity work continues to be a platform of interest. In 2011, through a joint venture with Beverly Hills Caviar, Kent served as VIP Host for the Cuba Gooding, Jr. charity The Harold Robinson Foundation in Bel-Air.

In her hosting capacity, she has interviewed a multitude of celebrities, business executives, and sports moguls. She also works as a restaurant reviewer for eateries in the greater Los Angeles area.

In 2012, she appeared in a guest starring role as a crack addict on the USA Network television series Graceland. She has also starred in numerous advertisements for Disney, including those for Disney Destinations, Disney Aulani Resort, and the Disneyland Resort in California. She has also provided voice-over work for the Disney brand.

Music video appearances

In 2012, Kent made an appearance alongside singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige in her video "Why." In 2011, Kent made an appearance alongside musical group Take 6 for their video "One," which also featured pop icon Stevie Wonder.

Pageants

Kent represented Tennessee in the 1991 Hal Jackson Talented Teens International pageant, which was held in New York. She was crowned Miss Personality from over 120 contestants worldwide. In an infamous pageant moment, she was kissed onstage by Shawn Stockman, of Boyz II Men fame, during her crowning. In 1992, her stage performance garnered her a place among the Top 10 at the Miss Teen Mississippi Pageant. She also won her state's Speech Award at the pageant that same year.

In 1993, she placed in the Top 5 at the Miss Teen Mississippi Pageant and won the Speech Award for the second consecutive year while also walking away with the Miss Congeniality trophy. While at Mississippi State University, she won the Miss Alpha Phi Alpha Pageant and was featured in their 12-month calendar as Miss July 1997.