Queen Latifah Launches CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE AWARDS with Free Mini Concert

Queen Latifah Launches CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE AWARDS with Free Mini Concert

- Over a Thousand Attend Concert at Wal-Mart to Welcome Queen Latifah Home -

SECAUCUS, N.J., July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Grammy Award winning musician and Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah launched the CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE AWARDS last night with a free mini-concert in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart in Secaucus, NJ. Backed by a full band, Queen Latifah performed a variety of her hits.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050715/NYF030 )

"It was exciting to offer a free concert in my home state, so close to where I grew up, for a cause that's so close to my heart: encouraging women to project confidence and to share the gift of confidence with others," said Queen Latifah.

The CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE AWARDS is a nationwide search to recognize women who personify and project the power of confidence. Queen Latifah is the inspiration, spokesperson, and creative consultant for VF Intimates' CURVATION(R) brand of intimate apparel for today's curvaceous women.

"I encourage you to nominate women who have inspired you to feel more confident, or who have been instrumental in creating or participating in programs that help women embrace the power of confidence," Queen Latifah told the crowd.

To nominate inspiring women for the awards visit http://www.curvation.com/ or mail in a completed entry form, available by calling 1-800-505-2378 and at select Wal-Mart and Kmart stores during Curvation Confidence Days. Forms will also be available at the Sugar Water Festival -- Queen Latifah's first national tour in eight years, also featuring Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. The tour is being sponsored by the CURVATION(R) brand.

Five finalists will be chosen by Queen Latifah and a panel of experts. The finalists will receive a $2,000 grant towards the program or cause with which they are affiliated, so that they can continue their work in building women's confidence. The panel will choose one grand prize winner who will be awarded an additional $10,000 grant to support her project or program. All finalists will be honored at a luncheon hosted by Queen Latifah in early 2006.

"I credit much of who I am today to the confidence I was given as a child," Queen Latifah told the crowd. "Strong, independent women like my mother and grandmother showed me the power of believing in myself and now I want to pass this message on. I know that if we can help women build their confidence, we can help them live more fulfilling lives."

The CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE AWARDS is part of the multi-year, multi-part CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE initiative, which in turn is part of the extended partnership agreement between the Curvation brand and Queen Latifah announced by VF Intimates on June 16. CURVATION NATION, another component of CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE, is an online community where women who have embraced the power of confidence can inspire and share their ideas with an ever-widening community. Women can find CURVATION NATION at http://www.curvation.com/, where they can also opt-in to receive CURVATION(R) product and event updates, including details surrounding the Sugar Water Festival where Queen Latifah and Curvation will further spread the CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE messages.

About the Company

VF Corporation is a leader in branded apparel including jeanswear, outdoor products, intimate apparel, image apparel and sportswear. Its brands include Lee(R), Wrangler(R), Riders(R), Rustler(R), Earl Jean(R), Vanity Fair(R), Vassarette(R), Bestform(R), Lily of France(R), Nautica(R), John Varvatos(R), JanSport(R), Eastpak(R), The North Face(R), Vans(R), Reef(R), Napapijri(R), Kipling(R), Lee Sport(R) and Red Kap(R).

VF Corporation's press releases, annual report and other information can be accessed through the Company's home page, http://www.vfc.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050715/NYF030 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN4 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: VF Corporation

CONTACT: Charly Rok, +1-212-598-4400, ext. 155, +1-917-912-2863(cell), Charly@lippetaylor.com, or Megan Driscoll, +1-212-598-4400, ext. 129, +1-646-285-7165(cell), Mdriscoll@lippetaylor.com, both of Lippe Taylor for VF Corporation

Web site: http://www.curvation.com/ http://www.vfc.com/

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