Australian Girl Selected For Top 25 in Celebrity Judged Global Talent Search

Avon is delighted to announce that Sydney local, Veronica Stewart-Monro has been chosen as one of 25 Semi Finalists to advance in the first ever online singing talent search, Avon Voices. The successful finalists were narrowed down from 6000 submissions from more than 60 countries worldwide. The public support has been phenomenal; so far 2.2 million votes have been cast globally for Rounds One and Two.

The 25 aspiring artists are vying for the opportunity to record a professionally produced album in New York City which will be determined by both public vote and a panel of acclaimed celebrity judges including the likes of Fergie, Delta Goodrem, Natasha Beddingfeld and Diane Warren.

Mother of two, Veronica Stewart-Monro, is a professional voice coach for beginner through to experienced vocalists at her busy studio in Sydney’s inner west. She has had an extraordinary journey with Avon Voices thus far, travelling to Hong Kong earlier in the year to record performance videos for previous rounds and is soon to be heading to Hollywood where she will receive further vocal training, beauty makeovers and mingle with some of the Avon Voices celebrity judges.

The semi finalist videos will be posted on AvonVoices.com on July 22 with the next period of voting running from July 22^nd through August 26^th, 2011. Australians are encouraged to register with Avon Voices and vote for Veronica to guarantee her place in the Finals.

At the core of Avon’s vision is the belief in the empowerment of women, like Avon, Veronica is a strong believer and is thrilled to be a part of a competition that give women a voice and empower others through song.

Later this year, up to 10 Global Finalists will have the opportunity to travel to New York City to record an Avon Voices anthem alongside the Avon Celebrities which will be written by Diane Warren, one of the world’s most prolific songwriters. The winners, one general public entrant and one Avon Representative, will be announced at the Avon Foundation for Women Annual Gala on November 2^nd.

The album will later be available for purchase through a total of around 6 million Avon Representatives globally. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Avon Foundation for Women for its Global Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

Avon is delighted to have Veronica representing Australian women in the Avon Voices Semi Finals and hopes with the voting support of the Australian public, her dream will be realised.

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Veronica Stewart-Monro is available for interview and photography. For further information please contact:

Anna Stark
T: +61 2 9936 7265E: anna.stark@avon.com

Notes to editors:

If You Haven’t Registered, Do it Now!

Avon Voices has invited women from around the world to join a 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 Semifinal Contender videos, and cast your vote between July 22 - August 26.
• 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 Avon Voices 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 and Avon Naturals. 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.