As more Black women win traditional ‘mainstream’ beauty pageants, contests like Miss Black America become matters of choice, not a reaction to racism. Is there room for both? A veteran winner of both says ‘yes.’

BY STARLA VAUGHNS CHERIN
FLORIDA COURIER

Anastagia Pierre became the 58th Miss Florida USA last week, beating out 47 other contestants, of whom 12 were Black. Pierre, a biology student at Nova Southeastern University, moves on to compete in the 2009 Miss USA Pageant, making her mark in a growing history of Black women who compete successfully in formerly all- White pageants.

Miss USA was the last among the so-called “mainstream’’ pageants, including Miss America and Miss Universe, to crown a Black woman. It wasn’t until 1990 that Carole Gist of Michigan became the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss USA, six years after Vanessa Williams became the first Black woman crowned Miss America.

Intelligent and talented, Pierre is trained in classical ballet and has competed in pageants since she was 7, becoming the first Black girl to win Miss Florida Teen USA in 2004. She recalls starting out and asking her mother why she was the only little Black girl competing.

“I looked around and saw I was the only African American among 40 little White girls with big hair. My mom told me it is something that sets me apart from the other contestants and gave me an edge,” Pierre told the Florida Courier.

Pierre joins the legacy of Black woman who competed in the USA major pageant system, starting in 1960 when Corrine Huff of Ohio was the first Black woman to compete in Miss USA. In 1964, Dorothy Johnson of Idaho went a step further, becoming the first Black woman to make the semifi nals at Miss USA.

Pageant of necessity
J. Morris Anderson first created and produced the Miss Black America pageant on Aug. 17, 1968 as a local Philadelphiaarea pageant to protest the lack of Black women in the Miss America pageant. Florida’s Joyce Warner won Miss Black America in 1972. The pageant was forever memorialized in its theme song, “Miss Black America,” written and performed by Curtis Mayfield. It was played as the winner walked down the runway.

The Miss Black USA pageant, another national contest showcasing Black beauty, was created by Karen Arrington 21 years ago as a result of the inspiration and confidence she received from other Black women. “As a young girl, I often read the works of great Black ‘she’roes’ and was inspired by their courage, strength and resiliency. I had a dream to create a national platform for young minority women,” she said.

Eunice Cofie, Miss Black Florida USA 2008, competed among 50 Black women in the Miss Black USA pageant last month but lost to Georgia’s 28-year-old Kristen Elizabeth White. The Miss Black USA pageant was White’s first Black pageant after winning Miss Black Georgia USA.

Veteran of both systems
Competing since she was 19 years old, White has twice won first and second runner-up in the Miss USA pageant and second, third and fourth runner-up in the Miss America system. “But never the title,” White told the Florida Courier.

“I’ve received tremendous life lessons from all the

pageants, but one thing I appreciate in the Miss Black USA pageant is that it is a celebration of who I am. Regardless of where I am, I am a Black woman. We are the pillars of our community and the rocks of our family. We will always need organizations that will uplift everything it means to be a Black woman.”

“There are so many images out there that depict us in a negative light, especially on TV. For example, the media is trying to ‘remake’ Michelle Obama’s image as if there is something wrong with who and what she is. I met her when I first won the title and that was a historic moment for me,” White exclaimed.

“The media tries to make us not appreciate the skin we’re in. It attempts to make us want to conform and try to fit a mold. In organizations like Miss Black USA, we can be who we are and still be considered beautiful, intelligent and equal.”

Also about the money
The super motivator for entering the pageants, Pierre and White say, are the scholarships and prizes that come along with winning. Pierre’s prizes, which include jewels, apparel, and television appearances, amounts to $50,000.

“As Miss Florida Teen USA, I won a scholarship for four years of free college. With my Florida Bright Futures scholarship on top of that, I actually had cash given back to me. I’m sure my mom loves it,” Pierre says.

Miss Black USA is the number one provider of scholarships for Black women.

“I get a chance to celebrate my community and put a light on what we are doing. We need to make sure that Miss Black USA is a household name because we’re doing big things,” White said. “I won $20,000. I will use it to go back to school.” White also won a walk-on part in Tyler’s Perry’s “House of Payne” (TV show) an expenses-paid trip to the Bahamas, a fourweek summer intensive at the New York Conservatory of Television, Film and Theater, and an Apple Bottom wardrobe.

An integral component of the pageants is the contestant’s community service work. Contestants volunteer within their communities. White’s Project Protect focuses on missing and exploited children. It is affiliated with the National Center for Missing Children in Washington, D.C.

Substantial investment
Pageant contestants spend a lot of money for the chance to win cash and prizes. The entrance fee for the Miss Florida USA Pageant is $1,700 on top of the apparel, hair, classes and other items needed to compete. Most contestants raise money through sponsors.

Miss Florida USA contestant Courtney McKenzie started an eBay business featuring everything a contestant needs in pageant wear and accessories. She attends Florida International University, and has been entering pageants since she was 5.

“I started my eBay business because I didn’t want to spend so much money on a dress. I listed a suit and started the bidding price at what I paid, and before I knew it I had made $100 profit. I offer pageant dresses, swimsuits and accessories. I do alterations and custom designs,” McKenzie told the Florida Courier.

Miss Florida USA contestant Lulu Orange is the daughter of Haitian immigrants who did not speak English when they came to America. They relied on their children to communicate. At 13, she helped her family purchase their first home.

“The (pageant) competition is fierce,” she said. “I look around at all these beautiful, talented, intelligent women and sometimes I wonder,” the Florida State University graduate told the Florida Courier.

“Then I think, ‘Wait, I was chosen out of thousands.’ It is really about challenging and pushing yourself to the limit.”