Top 10 Finalists are Announced and Voting Opens in Final Round of the Avon Voices Global Singing Talent Search

NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon Products, Inc. announced the names of the 10 Finalists from nine countries who will be advancing to the final round of Avon Voices – the company's first-ever global online singing talent search. The 10 Finalists (in alphabetical order by last name) are Pauline Alencar from Brazil, Evelina Anusauskaite from Lithuania, Cissy Crutcher and Jaclyn Dustin from the Unites States, Selena Gittens from Canada, Joy Loria from the Philippines, Roslynn Mahe from the United Kingdom, Rapeeporn Pratum-Anon from Thailand, Claudia Santos Morandi from Venezuela and Natalia Terekhova from Russia. These 10 talented women started their Avon Voices journey in December 2010 by simply submitting a 30-second performance video. Since that time, the Finalists have advanced through three rounds of voting, with 2.4 million votes cast from around the world.  As part of this journey, they have travelled on two unforgettable trips on behalf of Avon Voices, the most recent in July when they ventured to Hollywood, California to record their final performance videos.

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Ultimately, two winners, one an Avon Representative, will be announced in November when the Finalists travel to New York City for the Avon Voices Finale and the Avon Foundation for Women Gala.  While in New York City, the Final 10 will perform live in front of the Avon Voices celebrity judges and an invited global audience at the world famous Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square.  Other highlights of their trip will include recording the Avon Voices anthem written by music industry legend Diane Warren and performing at the highly-anticipated Avon Foundation for Women Gala, where the two Avon Voices winners will be announced.  Both the Avon Voices Finale and the Avon Foundation for Women Gala will be Livestreamed on AvonVoices.com on November 1 and November 2, respectively.

"Watching these amazingly talented women reach for their dreams over the past 10 months has been a tremendous source of inspiration for our 40,000 Avon Associates and 6.5 million Avon Representatives around the world," said Joe Billone, Vice President, Global Representative Branding & Communications, Avon Products, Inc.  "We are so proud of the 10 Finalists who truly embody women's empowerment and while there will only be two official winners of the talent search, all of our global Contenders have felt as though they've already won, having been on this once-in-a-lifetime journey with Avon Voices."

Also announced today are the winning songs selected for the Avon Voices songwriting competition for men and women which drew in 2,000+ entries from more than 50 countries.  All winning songwriters will have their song professionally critiqued by David Pack, Grammy Award winning record producer.  Two Grand Prize winners will be selected and will join the Avon Voices Finalists in New York for the Avon Foundation for Women Gala and may be offered a music publishing contract.  For a full list of Finalists and winning songwriters, go to AvonVoices.com.  

The two Avon Voices talent search winners will be selected by a combination of online public voting and a renowned judging panel of music industry leaders from around the world, including: 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; Ivete Sangalo, Brazil's biggest pop star; Maia, Colombian singing star; and Diego Torres, Grammy nominated singer/composer.

It's Not Too Late to Get Involved!  If You Haven't Registered, Do it Now!

Avon Voices invites women from around the world to join this global movement through music in celebration of Avon's 125th Anniversary.  Go to the program's official website – AvonVoices.com – to register to be part of the year-long program and access the following features:

• View and Vote:  Watch the Final Contenders' performance and highlights videos, and cast your votes weekly from September 8 – October 15 at AvonVoices.com.
• Listen & Learn:  Hear all the winning songs from the songwriting competition and learn about the composers and lyricists.
• Discover Exclusive Music:  "Shoot for the Stars," a song written and sung by Natasha Bedingfield and "Until You Love You," written by Diane Warren, produced by David Pack and sung by Valeriya and other recordings by Avon Voices judges and additional artists are available for purchase exclusively through AvonVoices.com. 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.  

To learn more about Avon Voices, go to AvonVoices.com or click here for multimedia assets.  Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  

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.

SOURCE Avon Products, Inc.