Germany Kent

{{Infobox person |name = Germany Kent |image = Germany Kent+Philanthropist 2016 Miracle on 1st Street.jpg |caption = Kent in December 2016 |education = University of Southern California
University of Alabama
Mississippi State University

|occupation =

• Journalist
• Author
• Actress
• Model
• Producer
• Activist
• Philanthropist

|awards = Sigma Delta Chi

Germany is an American award-winning print and broadcast journalist, media personality, former beauty queen, businesswoman, model, producer, author, actress, activist, and philanthropist.

Kent is also regarded as a social media etiquette expert and has been cited in multiple news publications including Inc.(magazine), Fast Company, Forbes and various others. She has made numerous media appearances, including segments on NPR, AOL, in addition to appearing on E. W. Scripps Company syndicated magazine show The List, ABC News, the CW, FOX, CBS, and NBC.

Kent has authored ten nonfiction books including The Hope Handbook Series, best-selling written work The Hope Handbook, and the critically acclaimed book You Are What You Tweet, a national bestseller.

The Hope Handbook, and You Are What You Tweet.

Early life

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. Kent began acting in school plays in the 5th grade and was later a beauty pageant winner. She graduated from North Panola High School in Sardis, Mississippi, where she served as a cheerleader, band majorette, editor of her school newspaper, and was voted to the Homecoming Court each of her four years. In her senior year, Kent was voted Miss North Panola, Prom Queen and "Most Likely To Succeed."

A speech champion while in high school, Kent consistently won the public and impromptu speaking competitions at the district/region and state level in DECA_(organization). She penned the class poem her senior year and participated in many artistic and philanthropic activities. She credits impromptu competition and announcing to large crowds for her career in broadcasting. In 2017, Kent returned to the North Panola campus where she was inducted into the NPHS Hall of Fame, becoming the first person in school history to receive the honor.

Education

After graduating from North Panola High School, Kent entered Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia where she majored in Journalism and Public Relations. While at Northwest, Kent became the first African-American to be elected president of the Student Senate and was voted a Homecoming Maid. She subsequently transferred to Mississippi State University in Starkville where she earned a bachelor's degree. While at Mississippi State, Kent was the first African-American woman to be elected to the Student Association, serving as the Attorney General.

Kent was inducted into the Lambda Eta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at Mississippi State. In addition to heavy student-services involvement, she worked in the community as a volunteer with non-profit organizations United Way of North Central Mississippi, Circle K International, Habitat for Humanity, and was a volunteer to special projects at the Palmer Home for Children, local shelters and retirement homes.

During her time as an undergraduate, she worked as a VIP tour guide: 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 in Tuscaloosa, where she received her Master of Arts degree on a full scholarship. The media scholar attended graduate school at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, gaining admission to both USC's Rossier College of Education and USC's Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism.

Journalism

Print

Kent wrote extensively on issues central to social media etiquette and offering ways to successfully use social media for marketing. Her written works have appeared in nationally syndicated columns and on-line.

She has been a regular contributor to Business Know-How and Business 2 Community, where she covered social media ethics, strategies, and techniques, and has also written a series of articles on business etiquette and social etiquette which have been featured in Live Well by Elite Meetings International, Home Business Magazine, Monster.com, and Yahoo! News.

Arts and Entertainment

Kent served as a freelance reporter and producer in Los Angeles since July 2011. A photojournalist as well, Kent has covered award ceremonies, served as a red carpet host to film festivals, charity events, held exclusive interviews working for various assignments in and around Los Angeles. Aside from her journalistic duties, Kent was tapped to emcee or host a series of elite affairs between Beverly Hills and Hollywood as a special event host.

Kent has worked as a radio personality in Los Angeles and anchor for public affairs television. She has been involved in television and radio as a media pundit. It was announced in October 2015 that Kent was joining the news team at the 50 Plus Report as a producer and reporter providing news segments.

Kent came to wide prominence in 2013 after serving as a guest correspondent for Real TV Films when she worked the Celebrity World Challenge Golf Championship in Calabasas, California benefiting ProCon.org and The March of Dimes.

In September 2013, Kent founded her own multi-platform media startup. She became one of the executive producers, for which she serves as a consultant, and guest on-air talent.

In 2015, Kent produced multiple videos covering The National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards sponsored by The Los Angeles Press Club. Of those interviewed that night for her media company were Bob Barker, Joe Mantegna, and Tavis Smiley. Kent became the first journalism mentor in LA Press Club's NAEJ Awards history to bring elementary and secondary school aspiring journalists to cover the event.

While based in Los Angeles, Kent won the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Online Deadline Reporting (Independent) for the story "Tragedy in Thousand Oaks," coverage in the wake of the Thousand Oaks shooting on the night of November 7, 2018. In June 2019, she was honored for distinguished service to the American people and the profession of journalism through outstanding accomplishments in the field for excellence in journalism by the Society of Professional Journalists at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Acting

Kent has made numerous acting appearances either as herself or playing an on-screen character. In 2012, Kent appeared as a winning contestant on Let's Make a Deal Christmas Edition. That same year she appeared in a guest starring role as a crack addict on the USA Network television series Graceland. In 2013, Kent starred in a Reality-TV series for the Food Network, alongside celebrity chef Robert Irvine. Kent has starred in a number of broadcast television commercials including spots for Coors Light, Verizon, AT&T, Nike, and eHarmony. She has appeared in numerous advertisements for Disney, including those for Disney Destinations, Aulani Resort, and the Disneyland Resort in Southern California. She has also provided voice-over work for the Disney brand. Kent has appeared on The Doctors, Criminal Minds, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Kent continues to work as a successful direct response host, and commercial talent appearing as a model and host in various industrial videos and in print and commercial advertisements. She has said that her stage name, Germany Kent, arrived to her in a dream.

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 City. She won the "Miss Personality Award" from over 120 contestants representing countries from all around the world. In an infamous pageant moment, Kent 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, Kent 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 Award." While at Mississippi State, Kent won the Miss Alpha Phi Alpha Pageant and was featured in their 12-month calendar as Miss July 1997.

Author

In March 2015, Kent penned a best-selling book on hope and motivation, The Hope Handbook. The book was originally created as a book of tweets from inspirations that Kent had posted on social media site Twitter. Kent claimed to have received hundreds of messages from followers recognizing her motivational Twitter messages and explaining how her messages of hope had inspired them. As a response to their messages, a collection of some of the tweets were assembled, and the book came to fruition.

Following the success of The Hope Handbook, Kent released a collection of Hope books, titled The Hope Handbook Series. On the weekend of their release in May 2015, Kent spearheaded a hope weekend campaign, resulting in a hashtag she generated, hope weekend, becoming the number two hashtag for that weekend on social media, only trailing Target.

In May 2015 Kent released You Are What You Tweet to critical acclaim. While writing her award-winning book, Kent was mentored by Harvard professor, Lisa Tener — a Stevie Award winner, and long-time book writing expert Martha Bullen. Tener featured Kent in an interview for her blog on authors entitled, "How to write a book." Kent enlisted the help of Russell P. Reeder, CEO of Culver City's power company Media Temple, who contributed the foreword for the book. This book also became a best-seller. Blog Critics called Kent's book "clear" and "practical," adding that it was "filled with savvy secrets." Readers Favorite praised it as "a very good book," and an "exceptional product." Abe Schwartz, a Huffington Post blogger, described the book as "excellent," "informative" and a "great read." Hillary Powell, a managing producer for PBS and Former Coordinator for The Oprah Winfrey Show, notes the book as "the manual for finding your voice on social media," calling it an "inspirational guidebook."

In August 2015, Kent was featured as a distinguished alumna on the Mississippi State University homepage, her Alma mater. The feature hailed her book as "social media savvy." That fall, she was featured in the Mississippi State University Alumnus magazine. That year, the social media business book received favorable mentions in Inc., The Examiner, Bloomberg Business, Fast Company, and garnered positive reviews from Blog Critics, Biz Catalyst 360, Herald Tribune, Hartford Business, and The Dallas Morning News. Following the release of her latest book, Kent devoted most of her time to book signings, and several book tours, with guest visits appearing nationwide to promote the book. Kent has used the platform of You Are What You Tweet to carry the message to organizations, churches, and schools across the country.

In March 2017, You Are What You Tweet received national recognition as one of four books selected by actor Romany Malco to help President Donald Trump with social media etiquette. As part of Malco's campaign, the critically acclaimed book was sent to the White House.

In June 2017, Kent teamed up with author and publisher Rhonda Branch Yearby to produce the book Women Of Faith: Their Untold Stories Revealed: Teen Edition: Bully & Cyber Bullying Prevention. The collaboration between Yearby and Kent became an instant best-seller.[

Published works

• You Are What You Tweet: Harness The Power of Twitter to Create a Happier, Healthier Life ISBN 978-0996146890
• The Hope Handbook: The Search for Personal Growth ISBN 9780996146876
• The Hope Handbook for Couples: The Search for Personal Growth ISBN 9781943206100
• The Hope Handbook for Moms: The Search for Personal Growth ISBN 9780996146852
• The Hope Handbook for Dads: The Search for Personal Growth ISBN 9781943206001
• The Hope Handbook for Christians: The Search for Personal Growth ISBN 9780996146821
• The Hope Handbook for Singles: The Search for Personal Growth ISBN 9781943206063
• The Hope Handbook for Survivors: The Search for Personal Growth ISBN 9781943206070
• The Hope Handbook for Mentors and Coaches: The Search for Personal Growth ISBN 9781943206049
• The Hope Handbook for Leaders: The Search for Personal Growth ISBN 9781943206025
• Women of Faith Their Untold Stories Revealed: Teen Edition: Bully & Cyber Bullying Prevention ISBN 9781548467302

Charitable works

A committed philanthropist, Kent has been involved with promoting volunteerism for several decades and contributes her support to multiple organizations. In 2011, through a joint venture with Beverly Hills, CA Caviar, Kent served as VIP Host for the Cuba Gooding, Jr. charity Harold Robinson Foundation in Bel-Air. As a social advocate and humanitarian, Kent has extended her charitable gifts, expertise, time, experience, and energy to volunteer with Make-A-Wish, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, The United Way, and countless other service organizations. She is the recipient of multiple humanitarian awards including a Humanitarian of the Year honor from the International Trailblazers Awards. In 2017, Kent was awarded a Global Philanthropy Award from Empower Magazine. That same year, Kent received a Lifetime Community Service Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Kent credits her grandmother for teaching her about charity work. Her grandmother Evelyn Palmer, whom she was named after, once received the perfect service award from her Alma mater, Alcorn State University, and would go on to be inducted into the prestigious Hall of Honor. A staunch advocate for bullying prevention, youth mentoring and mental health awareness, Kent has also been credited for her support of literacy programs, bringing awareness to gun violence, issues of media activism in general, and social media ethics in particular.

Public image and publicity

Kent is known publicly as an inspirational inclusive figure, officially adopting the name, The Hope Guru™. Through her platform of producing original quotes and anti-bias work, Kent has been at the forefront of motivating and empowering others. Kent is widely quoted across the internet by diverse communities. She has been a regular guest on Business Talk KLZ / KYCR (AM) dubbed, "The Most Positive Business Talk Show," and also appeared as a guest on many television, radio programs, and podcasts. In 2015, Kent became a spokesperson for the I Share Hope campaign.

Honors and awards

• In May 2015, SEO.com named Kent in the Top 50 Most Socially Shared Twitter Marketing Articles for a piece she authored for Business 2 Community.
• In June 2015, Kent received the Readers' Favorite Gold International Book Award for You Are What You Tweet.
• In August 2015, Kent received a Distinguished Alumni Honor from Mississippi State University.
• In October 2015, Kent was listed at No. 9 as a Notable Alumni by Northwest Mississippi Community College.
• Kent is ranked #13 on Onalytica's 2015 "Top 100 Social Media Influencers and Brands" list.
• In November 2016, Kent was named by Evan Carmichael as one of the "Top 100 Social Media Experts to Follow" list.
• In April 2017, Kent spoke at the National Stamps Scholars Journalism & Social Media Summit at Georgia Tech.
• In May 2017, Kent's You Are What You Tweet was recognized as a "Book of the Year" Finalist for the International Book Awards.
• In May 2017, Kent was named as a "Woman of the Year" recipient for the 2017 Faith Awards.
• Kent was chosen as a Branding Panelist for the national PowHERful Enrichment Conference held in Atlanta, presented by Soledad O'Brien and The Sara Blakely Foundation, on May 13, 2017.
• On May 17, 2017, Kent was honored with a Global Philanthropy Award from Empower Magazine.
• In 2017, Kent received a "Proclamation of Honor" from the City of Greenville, Mississippi, presented in Mississippi by Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons.
• On May 24, 2017, Kent became the first person ever to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at North Panola High School.
• In June 2017, Kent was presented with a Legacy Award from the Les Modernettes Social Club.
• On June 14, 2017, Kent's You Are What You Tweet was named a 2017 Literary Classics International Book Award Finalist.
• In 2017, Kent was recognized at the RICE Award's 7th Annual Best in Media Music Arts & Film in Atlanta.
• In June 2017, Kent was presented with a Lifetime Community Service Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• June 20, 2017 was decreed by the City of Greenville, Mississippi as "Germany Kent Day."
• In July 2017, Kent's book You Are What You Tweet received the "Inspirational/Visionary Silver Medal" in the Literary Classics International Book Awards.
• On July 25, 2017, Kent received a "Proclamation of Honor" from the State of Mississippi for Lifetime Achievement, presented by Mississippi Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and Senator Robert Jackson.
• On July 29, 2017, Kent won the Humanitarian of the Year Award for her community volunteerism, excellence in philanthropy, and public service commitment, which was presented at the Kidz Rock Awards in conjunction with Literacy Matters.
• On August 25, 2017, Kent's You Are What You Tweet was named "Best Motivational Book" and was honored with a Pinnacle Achievement Award from the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs.
• In 2017, Kent was named Host for the Global Christian Professional Women's Association Conference, headlined by Anne Graham Lotz.
• In September 2017, Kent was presented with a Trailblazer Award at the Atlanta Iron Man Wonder Woman Empowerment Summit for work in media, empowering youth and dedication to the community.
• On March 23, 2018, Kent was presented the Georgie Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award by the Greenville Arts Council for Greenville Honors Its Own.
• Kent was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal 2018 "Powerful Women Making A Difference in Los Angeles" list.
• Kent is ranked #32 on Digital Scouting's 2018 "Top 100 Social Media and Marketing Influencers" list.
• On July 15, 2018, Kent was honored as "Humanitarian of the Year" at the 2018 International Trailblazer Awards.
• In 2019, Kent won a Sigma Delta Chi Award for "Excellence in Professional Journalism" for Deadline Reporting (Online Independent) from the Society of Professional Journalists, becoming the first African-American woman to win the award in this category.