Miss Black America Pageant
A Journey Worth Savoring
College has been no small trek. Paying my way through school, choosing a major that best aligned with me and would give me the tools needed to serve, navigating uncertainty, and learning to trust the unfolding, all of it made for a long, winding, and beautiful adventure. I began at community college and earned my associate’s degree, went on to trade school to become a licensed esthetician, and eventually made my way to my dream university. Now, as I prepare to graduate with my bachelor’s and continue toward my master’s, I know this moment is far more than a diploma. It is a celebration of persistence, grit, faith, and my dreams.
A Spark from the Past
I wanted to find a way to celebrate my accomplishment and honor those that helped me get to this point. I was already days into my search and one day, while scrolling through Pinterest, my favorite place to wander for inspiration. I came across a stunning photo of a previous Miss Black America Queen. After taking a moment to admire the photo I went on to keep scrolling, but something about that photo I couldn’t shake. After a solid few scrolls I had an instant reminder of when I scrolled past something I really liked but, when I went back to look for it, it was lost to the digitalverse. So I quickly scrolled back up and found the picture.
A little research turned into a deep dive, and before I knew it, I was immersed in the history of the Miss Black America Pageant as if it had been waiting for me too. What began as a simple search for a graduation celebration became the doorway to my legacy.
I knew the pageant would be more than glitz and glamour, but I didn’t yet understand the depth of its roots; the legacy it carried, the work it required, and the transformation it would spark within me.
Preparing for the Crown
The pageant was a year away, and the moment I was accepted, I began practicing. I recited the Oath of Positivity until it became second nature. I shared the news with my community and, to my surprise, met incredible women, former queens, community leaders, CEOs, and world‑changers, women who had been hiding in plain sight.
A few months in, I realized I needed guidance and found a pageant coach. That’s when the real work began. I practiced public speaking, which quickly became one of my favorite parts. I always enjoyed giving presentations in school, despite the initial butterflies that I would get, so I was in my element when it came to public speaking. But when it came to learning how to walk and turns, I was like a fish out of water and it took a lot more time and effort. I could count on one hand the number of times I’d worn heels, I lived in ballet flats and sneakers, so learning to walk in heels was its own journey. But with time, I found my signature walk.
With each practice I could see myself changing… evolving… transforming. My worries seemed to melt away, my excitement only fueled my focus more, my beauty blossomed into my platform, and my confidence came from clarity.
Everything was going smoothly… until it wasn’t. As the trip approached, small issues began to pile up. Communication became inconsistent, and people shared their own pageant horror stories that left me feeling nervous. In the same moment other people would share their stories of overcoming adversity and making a change in spaces that truly needed it by being the change. Although my nerves started to build, my purpose was clear, so I kept moving forward.
Time for the Big Leagues
I headed to Wilmington, Delaware for a seven‑day pageant experience. I carried a backpack full of homework, a suitcase packed to the brim, a phone full of “Good Luck” messages, and a heart full of anticipation.
As soon as I arrived, I felt excited to be there. I noticed there weren’t as many contestants as when the pageant first began, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. But from the moment I stepped in, everything moved nonstop; long practice days filled with curiosity, laughter, questions, and unexpected pivots. Former queens and community leaders mentored us, teaching us how to speak, how to walk, and how to hold onto the lessons we were gathering.
The Miss Black America Pageant never felt like a competition. It felt like unity. The women supported one another, listened deeply, honored each other’s stories, and genuinely wanted to see everyone win. And because it was a dream come true, I couldn’t stop smiling, at myself, at the world, at the moment I was living in. I bonded with the ladies over breakfast chats, long practices, giggly car rides, and our shared longing for food and sleep. With a legacy as rich as this one, it was never about competing; it was about stepping forward to continue a tradition that has uplifted Black women for generations.
Although the moments were beautiful, I began to notice cracks in the foundation of this long‑standing legacy, cracks that come with resisting change. I knew those cracks all too well. If you’re familiar with the saying, “When you know better, you do better,” then you understand the weight of it. To resist the change that comes after learning better is to let those cracks deepen, rooting themselves into the foundation until they reach the very place that needs transformation.
Small issues that could have been resolved easily turned into long, drawn‑out processes that required a lot of waiting. The lack of communication I experienced before arriving only continued, even while standing in front of the very person who had the answers. Sometimes the room felt thick with everything that wasn’t being said.
It didn’t take long to understand why there were fewer contestants now than in the beginning. A strong legacy had become rigid, and its lack of flexibility made it hard. Yet despite the challenges, I witnessed women with beautiful hearts, women who still wanted to carry this legacy forward with pride and purpose.
A Detour I Didn’t Expect
But my path had a twist waiting for me. Mid‑pageant, I received unexpected news that required me to fly home. I planned a quick turnaround, thinking I’d return in time to finish the competition. On the flight home, I’ll admit, I enjoyed the break from the 10‑hour practice days.
But when I flew back, everything changed. My connecting flight was canceled due to a snowstorm. Thinking nothing of it, I was just going to catch another flight. Yeah, that wasn’t happening at all, all flights out had been canceled due to a snow storm. I did everything in my power to get on another flight to Delaware, I even looked at other airlines and after calculating every possible way to get there. Eventually I had to accept that I wasn’t going to make it back in time to finish the competition.
After tears, a late‑night conversation with a woman who had no top teeth, and a sleepless night waiting for an early flight home, I finally accepted what was happening. And after giving myself a few days to breathe, I realized something important:
I had already received the blessing I went there for.
Lessons of a Pageant Princess
Congratulations to Briana, the 58th Miss Black America Queen.
As for me, I walked away with lessons that will last a lifetime:
Confidence is a skill that grows when you nurture it.
Beauty is more than appearance; it’s passion, joy, community, and purpose.
There is power in speaking with clarity and connection.
Focus is a discipline, especially in moments of pressure.
Positivity and integrity matter most when no one is watching.
And the greatest gift is being able to pour into the next generation
What Comes Next
I’m excited to continue participating in pageants, I have been given the knowledge to create a strong foundation alongside that foundation. I will continue to breathe new life into the very essence that helped empower black women to see their own beauty. I will use this same empowerment to empower minority women to embrace their beauty.
I am even more excited about the new path unfolding before me. I’ll be investing my energy into philanthropy.
Looking back, it was philanthropy that gave me the scholarship to attend my dream school.
I look forward to helping children and adults develop “Skills for Success,” as well as support initiatives that honor cultural history, and continue to grow my platform focused on nurturing meaningful relationships through self‑care.
It’s brands like Chantecaille, who protect endangered animals, and TOMS, who provide shoes to support children’s education, that remind me how powerful giving can be.
This experience wasn’t just designed to create beauty in me, it was meant to help me create beauty in the world.
“All I wanna do is make things beautiful.” ~Iyhanna Peters