From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Miss Black USA Pageant
Miss Black USA Pageant
The Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant is a national es the state pageants. Women from areas where a state
scholarship competition for young African-American pageant is not held may apply as a delegate-at-large.
women that was founded in 1986 by Karen Arrington.[1]
It is a non-profit corporation in the state of Maryland,
recognized under the 501(c)3 code of the Internal Rev-
Winners
enue Service. In 2007, over eighty percent of the del- Miss Black USA winners and contestants have gone on
egates were pursuing graduate or professional degrees. to successful careers in entertainment, law, education,
The winner that year was a first-year medical student at medicine and other arenas. Some of the pageant’s win-
Meharry Medical College. Each year, a winner is selected ners include:
to serve as "Miss Black USA" for one year and receives an • (Miss Black USA 2010) Actress
academic scholarship. • (Miss Black USA 2009) Author, Founder of LadyDiva
Corporation
• (Miss Black USA 2008) Model, Actress
Former titleholders •
The reigning Miss Black USA 2011 is Ocielia Gibson •
(Texas), the first Miss Black Texas USA to win the na- •
tional title . The first titleholder was Tamiko Gibson, Miss • (Miss Black Maryland 1994) — gospel recording artist
Black USA 1987, representing Maryland. Other former • (former Miss Black Texas USA) — former co-host of
titleholders include Osas Ighodaro (2010, Connecticut), Bishop TD Jake’s Potter House; life coach,
Shayna Rudd (2009, Pennsylvania), Kristen E. White motivational speaker and author
(2008, Georgia), Kalilah Allen-Harris (2007, Tennessee), • (Miss Black USA 1994) — Senior Producer, Tom
Celi Marie Dean (2005, Minnesota), Lisa Marie Miree Joyner Morning Show
(2001-2002, Ohio), Caroline Mack (South Carolina), Dawn • (Miss Black Iowa USA 1995) — college professor,
Moss (1996, Maryland), Sheila Rugege-Dantzler author and speaker
(Louisiana), Deya Smith (1994, Connecticut), Ebony War- • (Miss Black Kentucky USA 1996) — jazz recording
ren (Florida), Clarissa Lester-Kenty (1990, South Carolina) artist
and Elizabeth Waddell (Michigan). • (Miss Black Ohio USA 1993) — co-founder with her
husband of an on-line Christian ministry
State pageants • (Miss Black Kentucky USA 2009) — editor-in-chief of
Teens for Change magazine in Ghana; author (novel
Each year, state competitions are held across the nation HUSH)
including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, •
Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,Virginia
and Washington. The Miss Black USA organization licens-
References
[1] Miss Black USA
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miss_Black_USA_Pageant&oldid=453262350"
Categories:
• Beauty pageants in the United States
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