We already know girls run the world but Black women run the universe. Women of color continue to break down color barriers in the fashion and beauty industry, including pageantry. This year, Black women hold the titles of Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss Earth 2021 and we love it!
Miss USA 2021
On Monday night, Elle Smith was crowned Miss USA 2021. The former Miss Kentucky is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and currently works as a multimedia journalist at a local ABC news station, WHAS 11. Winning Miss Kentucky back in May was the first time the 23-year-old competed in pageantry. She told NPR she wanted to participate in a pageant since high school but she had to wait until she got a “big girl job’ in order to afford it.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW6wsmOAt4N/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“A Miss USA, her job is to connect with people,” Smith told NPR. “She should be able to speak with a three-year-old, she should be able to speak with a 90-year-old veteran or the CEO of a business, and we do that every single day at work. You’re speaking to a wide range of personalities and meeting different people with different perspectives, and so I think that’s the big thing that I take from work and then translate it to Miss Kentucky USA, which I hope I can translate to Miss USA.”
Smith is the third Black woman in a row to win the title following Asya Branch in 2020 and Cheslie Kryst in 2019. She will go on to compete for Miss Universe on Dec. 12 in Israel.
Miss Teen USA 2021
Breanna Myles is the first Floridian to win the Miss Teen USA title and the first person of African and Latino descent to represent Florida in the Miss Teen USA competition.
When Myles’s name was called Hannah Gilliard, Miss District of Columbia Teen USA and another Black contender rushed over to embrace the teen. The rest of the girls joined them in a group hug. The moment has gone viral on social media.
“This is a real sisterhood,” the Miss Teen USA pageant captioned the video on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW1TinCLLEM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Myles is a student at Florida State University, majoring in Computer Science and Musical Theater, WTXL reports. She aspires to be a software engineer. The Port Saint Lucie native is the founder of GEMS: Girls Making Strides Everywhere, an organization that inspires young women to be actively involved in their communities. She also owns a small digital design business called Bre’s Digital Designs.
Myles is the third Black woman in four years to win the title behind 2019’s Kaliegh Garris and Hailey Colborn.
Miss Earth 2021
Destiny Wagner was crowned Miss Earth 2021 during the virtual finals on Nov. 21. The 25-year-old Belizean-American author is the first Miss Earth to represent Belize, an honor she does not take lightly.
“My country has never placed at Miss Earth before nor have we ever had an international crown,” she said following the announcement. ” So right now, this is what we needed and I am happy to represent such a gorgeous country. I am overwhelmed right now with emotions. The words and the gratitude, it’s very hard to express. But I am thankful.”
Before Wagner, the last Black woman to be crowned in the international competition was Kenya’s Winfred Omwakwe in 2002. Belize’s Prime Minister Johnny Briceño congratulated Wagner on his social media.
“I congratulate Ms. Destiny Wagner on winning Miss Earth 2021,” Briceño tweeted. “We look forward to your stellar representation of our beautiful country over the next year.”
Wagner received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pace University in New York. She is a poet and author. Her book, So You Need Advice is a book of stories about womens’ ventures in sex, love, school, and work and is available on Amazon.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWh1V4vrrKu/
On Dec. 4, Wagner was given the key to Belize City.
“Homecoming ?? ! I am so happy to be back on my native soil,” Wagner captioned the moment on her Instagram page. “Thank you Mr. Bernard Wagner for giving me the Key to Belize City. Thank you Belize Hotel Association, Belize Tourism Board and Blue Economy and Civil Aviation for hosting and welcoming me with open arms.”
