 Each year, the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) invites female jewelry designers from all walks of life, from professionals to hobbyists, to submit entiries for its DIVA Gives Back competition. This year’s event will support the work of the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), a non-profit organization funding education to empower economically disadvantaged people in the African nations where diamonds are a natural resource. The three categories for submissions this year are the Canadian Diamond DIVA, Red Carpet DIVA, and DIVA Gives Back to DEF. In the Canadian Diamond competition, sponsored by diamond mining company Rio Tinto, entries will feature only Canadian diamonds and will retail for around $5,000. The winning design will be donated to the DEF charity auction. In the Red Carpet competition, the winning design, if not already made, will be interpreted by diamond jewelry designer Christian Tse and also donated to the DEF auction. This design is meant to be worn to a red carpet event, and should retail for less than $10,000. The winning design for the DIVA Gives Back to DEF category must retail for less than $500 and may be mass-produced as a fund-raising item for the DEF. All women, regardless of training or experience, are welcome to submit designs before the May 4 deadline. They will be judged based on originality, creativity, wearability, and interpretation of the specific category. Winners will be announced at the WJA DIVA Awards Party at Lavo in Las Vegas’ Palazzo Hotel on June 1.
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