Miss Black USA Pageant
{{Short description|National scholarship competition for Black women}}
The Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant is a national scholarship competition for young women of African descent that was founded in 1986 by Karen Arrington.[http://www.missblackusa.org Miss Black USA]{{cite book|editor-last=Smith|editor-first=Jessie Carney|title=Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture|year=2011|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaafri00smit_443|url-access=limited|publisher=Greenwood|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaafri00smit_443/page/n196 122]}} While Ms. Arrington has a long-standing history of hosting a national Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant, her system has not been exclusive in doing so consecutively. As indicated by the chart below, there have been some years where "no pageant was held" by Ms. Arrington's State of Maryland organized non-profit, for example in years such as 1998, 1999 and 2000. However, similar to Miss USA and Miss America both being national systems, there have been other non-profits to host national scholarship pageants to celebrate Black women, with documented queens.
The Miss Black USA Pageant System founded by Ms. Arrington is a non-profit corporation in the state of Maryland, recognized under the 501(c)3 code of the Internal Revenue Service. The current titleholder under her pageant system is Kennedy Lucas of Maryland, who was crowned on August 4, 2024.
History and former titleholders
The first titleholder was Tamiko Gibson, representing Maryland, who was crowned Miss Black USA 1987 at the JW Marriot in Washington, D.C., on June 6, 1987.{{cite web|last=Allen|first=Freddy|title=New Miss Black USA 'Ready' for the Future|url=http://www.blackpressusa.com/new-miss-black-usa-ready-for-the-future/|work=BlackPressUsa|date=27 August 2012|accessdate=11 August 2015}} Gibson would later complain that she had been improperly dethroned in May 1988 and received none of the promised prizes.{{cite news|last=Trescott|first=Jacqueline|title=Black Pageant Under Fire|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/08/05/black-pageant-under-fire/1995eb7a-e35e-457a-9825-7b57944610a0/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=5 August 1988|accessdate=13 August 2015}}{{cite news|last=Zak|first=Dan|title=Miss Black USA pageant bumpy but it's refocusing|url=http://www.chron.com/life/article/Miss-Black-USA-pageant-bumpy-but-it-s-refocusing-1935445.php|newspaper=The Houston Chronicle|date=10 August 2005|accessdate=11 August 2015}}
On August 23, 2003, Elizabeth Muto won the pageant, which was held in Miami.{{cite news|title=Unhappy Miss Black USA returns her crown|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2003/12/08/tidbits1.html?page=all|work=South Florida Business Journal|date=8 December 2003|accessdate=11 August 2015}} Muto returned her crown later that year because she was unhappy with the contract that the pageant asked her to sign, which would have made them her exclusive publicist, agent and manager.
State pageants
Each year, state competitions are held across the nation including Alabama, Arizona,http://www.missblackarizona Arizona California,http://www.missblackcalifornia.com California Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa,http://www.missblackiowausa.org Iowa Massachusetts,http://www.missblackmass.org {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605002916/http://missblackmass.org/ |date=2010-06-05 }} Massachusetts Mississippi,[http://www.missmahoganyscholarshipinc.org Mississippi] New York,http://www.beautys-ink.com New York North Carolina,http://www.noireproductions.com/missblacknorthcarolina.htm North Carolina Ohio,http://www.missblackohiousa.com Ohio Oregon,http://www.missblackoregon.org Oregon Pennsylvania, South Carolina,http://www.missblacksc.org South Carolina Tennessee,http://www.missblacktennessee.com Tennessee Virginiahttp://www.houseofl.org Virginia and Washington.http://www.missblackwashington.org Washington {{cite web | url=https://www.whereweconverge.com/post/miss-black-washington-justine-baker-reflects-on-her-recent-victory-and-preparing-for-the-national-stage | title=Media Meets Majesty: Justine Baker Miss Black Washington Eyes National Crown }} The Miss Black USA organization licenses the state pageants. Women from areas where a state pageant is not held may apply as a delegate-at-large.
Winners
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Name !State !class="unsortable"|Notes |
| 1987
|data-sort-value="Gibson, Tamiko"|Tamiko Gibson |Maryland |Crowned June 6, 1987, in Washington, D.C. |
| 1988
|data-sort-value="Rainey, Melanie Elaine"|Melanie Elaine Rainey | | |
| 1989
|data-sort-value="Waddell, Leslie Elizabeth"|Leslie Elizabeth Waddell (later Ezina LeBlanc) |Michigan |Crowned in College Park, Maryland.{{cite news|title=Miss Black USA|work=Jet|date=16 January 1989|page=54}} (*Later dethroned and replaced by first runner-up, Elizabeth Regina Wallace of Florida){{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jq8DAAAAMBAJ&dq=elizabeth+regina+wallace&pg=PA38 |title=Jet |date=1990-07-09 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company |language=en}} |
| 1990
|data-sort-value="Lester, Clarissa"|Clarissa Lester |South Carolina | |
| 1991
|data-sort-value="Whitaker, Tarsha"|Tarsha Whitaker |Houston |
| 1992
| |
| 1993
|data-sort-value="Warren, Ebony"|Ebony Warren |Florida | |
| 1994
|defaultsoft="Smith, Deya"|Deya Smith |Connecticut | |
| 1995
|data-sort-value="Rugege, Sheila Mutumba"|Sheila Mutumba Rugege |Louisiana | |
| 1996
|data-sort-value="Moss, Dawn"|Dawn Moss |Maryland | |
| 1997
|data-sort-value="Mack, Caroline"|Caroline Mack |North Carolina | |
| 1998
|data-sort-value="Hughes, Alicia"|Alicia Hughes |Texas |Crowned in Houston, Texas, on August 22, 1998.{{cite news|title=Miss Black USA|work=Jet|date=28 September 1998|page=22}} (Pageant hosted by USA Metroplex Pageant Systems, Inc.) |
| 1999
|colspan=3|No pageant held |
| 2000
|colspan=3|No pageant held |
| 2001
|data-sort-value="Miree, Lisa Marie"|Lisa Marie Miree |Ohio |Crowned March 24, 2011, in Birmingham, Alabama. |
| 2002 |
| 2003
|data-sort-value="Muto, Elizabeth"|Elizabeth Muto |Nevada |Crowned August 23, 2003, in Miami. Returned crown four months later. |
| 2004 |
| 2005
|data-sort-value="Dean, Celi Mari"|Celi Marie Dean |Minnesota |Crowned August 7, 2005, in Washington, D.C. |
| 2006 |
| 2007
|data-sort-value="Allen-Harris,Kalilah"|Kalilah Allen-Harris |Tennessee |Crowned June 1, 2007, in The Gambia.{{cite web|last=Stuart|first=Shantiqua S.|title=Miss Black USA 2007 Speaks Candidly to Black Voice News|url=http://www.blackvoicenews.com/2007/08/08/miss-black-usa-2007-speaks-candidly-to-black-voice-news/|work=Black Voice News|date=8 August 2007|accessdate=28 September 2016}} |
| 2008
|data-sort-value="White, Kristen E."|Kristen E. White |Georgia | |
| 2009
|data-sort-value="Rudd, Shayna Y."|Shayna Y. Rudd |Pennsylvania |Crowned August 3, 2009, in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|last=Brown|first=DeNeen L.|title=Meaning of Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant Runs Deep|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/04/AR2009080402267.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=5 August 2009|accessdate=13 August 2015}} |
| 2010
|data-sort-value="Ighodaro, Osas"|Osas Ighodaro |Connecticut |Crowned August 9, 2010, in Washington, D.C.{{cite press release|author=|title=Miss Black Connecticut Crowned Miss Black USA® 2010 in the Nation's Capital|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miss-black-connecticut-crowned-miss-black-usa-2010-in-the-nations-capital-100512849.html|location=Upper Marlboro, Maryland|publisher=PR Newswire|date=12 August 2010|access-date=20 August 2015}} |
| 2011
|data-sort-value="Gibson, Ocielia"|Ocielia Gibson |Texas |Crowned August 8, 2011, in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|title=2011 Miss Black U.S.A., Presented by Calgon, Crowns Winner in Washington, D.C.|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110812005969/en/%E2%80%9C2011-Black-U.S.A.-Presented-Calgon-Crowns-Winner/|work=Business Wire|date=12 August 2011|accessdate=12 August 2015}}{{cite news|last=Nicholson|first=Eunice|title=Dallas' Ocielia Gibson speaks about reign as Miss Black USA|url= http://www.dallassouthnews.org/2012/04/18/dallas-ocielia-gibson-miss-black-usa/|work=Dallas South News|accessdate=12 August 2015}} |
| 2012
|data-sort-value="Watkins, Salena"|Salena Watkins |New York |Crowned August 13, 2012, in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|title=Salena Watkins crowned Miss Black USA 2012|url=http://wjla.com/news/local/salena-watkins-crowned-miss-black-usa-78802|work=WJLA News|date=14 August 2012|accessdate=12 August 2015}} |
| 2013
|data-sort-value="McCoy, Amanda"|Amanda McCoy |North Carolina |Crowned August 12, 2013, in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|last=Watson|first=Andrea V.|title=Amanda McCoy Wins Miss Black USA|url=http://www.jetmag.com/life/amanda-mccoy-wins-miss-black-usa/|work=Jet|date=21 August 2013|accessdate=12 August 2015}} |
| 2014
|data-sort-value="Alexander, Jasmin"|Jasmin Alexander |Colorado |Crowned August 10, 2014, in Washington, D.C. |
| 2015
|data-sort-value="Gibbs, Madison"|Madison Gibbs |North Carolina |Crowned August 9, 2015, in Washington, D.C.{{cite web|last=Elz|first=Kai|title=Miss Black USA 2015 Crowned|url=http://chicagodefender.com/2015/08/14/miss-black-usa-2015-crowned/|work=Chicago Defender|date=14 August 2015|accessdate=20 August 2015}} |
| 2016
|Tonille Simone Watkis |Connecticut |Crowned August 7, 2016, in Washington, D.C. [https://1966mag.com/tonille-watkis-crowned-miss-black-usa-2016/ Tonille Watkis Crowned Miss Black USA 2016] |
| 2017
|Daphne Marcelle Lee |New Jersey |Crowned August 20, 2017, in Washington, D.C. |
| 2018
|Kelsi Alexandria Horn* |Michigan |Crowned August 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C. (*Later dethroned and replaced by first runner-up, Kelli Abernathy of Alabama) |
| 2019
|TeKema Balentine |Wisconsin |Crowned August 11, 2019, in Washington, D.C. |
| 2020
|colspan=3|No pageant held |
| 2021
|Myja Gary |Virginia |Crowned August 8, 2021, in Washington, D.C. |
| 2022
|Tahira Gilyard |New York |Crowned August 7, 2022, in Washington, D.C. |
| 2023
|Ariel Thompson |Kentucky |Crowned August 6, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Resigned in April 2024. {{cite web | url=https://www.missblackusa.org/press | title=MBUSA Press }} |
| 2024
|Kennedy Lucas |Maryland |Crowned August 4, 2024 in Washington, D.C. |
= Local and State winners =
Miss Black USA state and local delegate winners and contestants have gone on to successful careers in entertainment, law, education, medicine and other arenas. Some of the state and local pageant's winners include:
- Rev. Deidra Avery, MDiv. (Miss Black Ohio 1993) – Minister.
- Kia Talein Anderson (Miss Black Maryland 1992 Miss Black USA First Runner-up 1993) – Award-Winning R&B/Gospel Recording artist, radio and TV Personality, actress and model.
- Dr. Lynette Danley-Land (Miss Black Iowa USA 1995) – College professor, author and speaker.
- Valorie Burton (Former Miss Black Texas USA 1995) – Former co-host of Bishop TD Jake's Potter House, life coach and author.
- Kemba Cofield (Miss Black Kentucky USA 1996) – Jazz recording artist
- Arnecia (Bradley) Williams (Miss Black Alabama USA 2007) – US Army Engineer, Actress, and Motivational Speaker
- Chloe Johnson (Miss Black Colorado USA 2011) – Television personality, model and dancer.
- [http://www.kades-mode.com Kade Henderson] (Miss Black New York USA 2015, Community Ambassador Award Recipient) Brand and Wardrobe Stylist and Digital Merchant
- [http://www.facebook.com/MissBlackMIUSA Ashley Jones] (Miss Black Michigan USA 2015, Top 15 Miss Black USA 2015 national pageant and Community Ambassador Award Recipient) actress, model, brand ambassador, host www.theashleymarie.com
- Melba M. Furlow (Miss Black Florida USA 1996) – Former Christian Radio Talk show host, author, college professor, & former student of Iyanla Vanzanthttp://www.floridafamilynetwork.com/melba-furlow-herringtonhttp://www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/sites/default/files/Biography-Vertical-Files-List-Dec2014.pdf
- Daphne Marcelle Lee (Miss Black New Jersey USA 2017) Professional Ballerina, Activist, Model, Brown Girls Do Ballet, MFA Hollins University, BFA Ailey/Fordham University, www.daphnemlee.com
- Yasha Clark (Miss Black Louisiana USA 2019) Personal Injury Attorney, Model, Author www.justcallyasha.com
- Justine Baker (Miss Black Washington USA 2024) – Journalist, Television Personality, Author
- Jillian Patricia Pirtle (Miss Black Pennsylvania USA 2011) – soprano, historian, and CEO of the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society
References
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