NEW Pageant for Black Women!

Lori Pelzer, Mrs. South Carolina International 2009 (and top-placing contestant in Mrs. SC America and Mrs. SC United States in recent years) has launched the Miss Black International Pageant!
There are currently state preliminaries in Georgia and South Carolina, and the organization is seeking more state directors, as well as at-large contestants.

For more info on this exciting new pageant organization, please click below: http://missblackinternational.webs.com
Capture it,
CB

Hampton University Crowns First Non-Black Queen

Wow, Hampton University crowns it's first Non-Black University Queen!
What a milestone for them! Or is it?

22-year-old nursing senior Nikole Churchill reports that since winning the coveted title, she has been met with prejudice opposition, gossip, and doubts by her fellow Hamptonians on her ability to represent the historically black institution.

In response to the mixed responses she received, she decided to write an open letter to President Obama. Yep, the PRES...inviting him to speak at her university on racial tolerance.

That only fanned the flame. Outrage from Hampton University staff and students prompted Miss Churchill to issue an apology because she did not have permission from the pageant nor university to speak publicly on the controversy. Many believe that her public letter has caused more negative press about Hampton University. Hopefully, the controversy will settle down and Miss Churchill can have a peaceful and productive reign as Miss Hampton University 2009-2010. She is representing her university at the Miss Virginia Pageant, which is a prelim in the Miss America Scholarship Pageant System.

MY PERSPECTIVE: As a Miss America System Alum, I too represented the minority of my hometown being only the second Black woman crowned in the 80+ history of my city's pageant. Mind you, this was a southern city with only a little over 30% being African-American, and the majority of the city's population was, and still is, Caucasian. So was I unable to represent my hometown because I didn't fit into mold of the majority of women there? Was I incapable of being a spokeswoman for the causes I believed because historically, my city was established and heavily industrialized by Whites? Was my talent somehow discredited? My beauty somehow inadequate? My intellect irrelevant? A resounding NO. No, no, no.

So congrats Ms. Churchill. My hats off to you. You show exactly how far even HBCUs have come in being respected instutitions of higher-learning for Americans of ALL ethnicities. How incredible to see that Americans of varying racial backgrounds choose HBCUs as their place of career development and educational enhancement. It is a true mark of diversity, and the excellence of African-Americans contribution to the betterment of our country.

For more info on this story:
The Daily Press Article: http://www.dailypress.com/wtkr-miss-hampton,0,6521092.story

Miss Virginia: http://www.missva.com/
Miss America: www.missamerica.org
Hamptonm University: http://www.hamptonu.edu/

-CB

Props to Miss Dominican Republic 2009!!

CONGRATS to ADA AIMEE DE LA CRUZ, Miss Dominican Republic 2009 and 1st RUNNER-UP to Stefania Fernandez (Venezuela) MISS UNIVERSE 2009! It is reported that Ada is only the second woman of (noticeably) Black heritage to grace the Miss Domnican Republic reign. She was stunning at the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant, and CB sends our love and congrats on her awesome finish!

1st Black Miss England Finally Crowned

Well, it's about time England. However, the wait was worth it. Last week apsiring 2012 Olympian, Rachel Christie, soared amongst a competition with 53 other beautiful contestants to earn the crown of Miss England 2009.

“I don’t know why so few black girls enter. I think they think they won’t win because beauty queens always have blond hair and blue eyes. I think they need to advertise more to change that. My ambition in life is to compete and win gold in the 2012 Olympics. I would also love to do well in Miss World, I want to be successful in whatever I choose to do in life.” Christie quipped. Only 20 years of age, this dynamic young woman has etched her name is history, and we are excited to see what this year holds for her as more take notice.

To keep up with Miss Christie during her historic reign, visit

http://www.missengland.info/

Miss Black USA's Talented Teen Contestants!!

Wow!

This is so exciting - the Talented Teen division of Miss Black USA is kicking off this year! Check out their website to view the official teen delegates for 2009.

See them here:

http://www.missblackusa.org/teens.html

Miss Black America Relaunches!!

The Miss Black America Organization has relaunched and is currently seeking women of color between the ages of 13-29 for the titles of Miss Black America 2010 and Miss Black America Teen 2010! I am super excited, being that MBA was one of the first national pageants for women of color.

On April 25th, they are beginning recruitment by hosting a casting call (that will also be premired as a television special) for ladies in DC, Maryland and Virginia

at the Temple of Praise in DC.

For more info, visit www.thesearch2009.com or http://www.dc50tv.com/pages/miss_black_america/ for more info!

Capture it!!!

**P.S. They are also working on revamping their website, and it looks great so far! Check it out at www.missblackamerica.com.