Pageant Week: Day 6 (FINALS)

After performing a great opening number with my sister queens, I stand and wait (and pray) for my name to be called in the section of the Top 15 contestants. The hosts get to number 14....and I am shaking.....FINALLY my name is called and I have made the Top 15.

After on-stage question we rush back to compete the remaining parts of the competition. I can honestly say this was the BEST I have everrrr performed my talent selection and I am extremely proud of that, especially bc I could hear audience members co-signing and agreeing with what I was saying. I didn't stumble or stutter once and I walked off stage feeling absolutely touched by Him, bc through Him I was able to relay an important message. 

Tonight I was blessed to make the Top 15 of the 2012 Miss Black USA Pageant, the who's who of women of color. Although I leave without the national title, I am so blessed to be a part of this organization and thankful for the sisterhood built throughout my reign. Thank you all for your positive and kind words of support. No matter what, I am still your Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, and will continue to make an impact even after the conclusion of my reign in November.

I am blessed to have every one of you on my side supporting me. This journey has really shown me a lot about how the devil uses people to hurt you and keep you down, even those put in place to actually help you....but it's important to keep pushing, keep succeeding, and KEEP SMILING no matter what they say. Say updated on my reign my liking my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MBLUSA2012

Back to Louisiana to complete my reign!

Pageant Week: Day 5

Today was a great day! This morning was the 2012 Miss Black USA Praise & Worship Prayer Breakfast. I really thought it was going to be boring and long, but it really help me grow even closer to my sister queens.

After breakfast and opening prayer, we were blessed to receive the word from our guest preacher in a very moving sermon. Followed by a song from 2011 Miss Black USA Talented Teen Jasmin Sessoms, each queen introduced themselves and was supposed to give their favorite quote. This quickly turned into testimonials of how the Lord had brought each of us through this journey to get to this pageant. We learned of the ups and downs one another faced, and how the Lord brought us through it. It re-enforced the responsibility being queen hold: giving back and giving thanks.

I learned so much this morning about my beautiful sister queens. Tears were definitely following and it made me sad as I realized I would be leaving soon. 

I also had the opportunity to thank my mother. I said, "she pushed me to want more for myself...so I have to push others....I thank her today for giving me her last over and over and for being here with me this week." 

Although we have our moments, my mother is phenomenal and continues to give me her last everyday.

After the breakfast we finally had some downtime! So Dominique took advantage and got some playtime in!

Miss Black Washington USA and I

Washington Memorial

MLK

After playtime it was back to the hotel to attend the 2012 Miss Black USA Talented Teen Pageant. They are our little sisters, and we were front row center to watch and support them. 

These 12 contestants were truly amazing, especially MY teen Tori! I definitely felt mixed emotions when they announced that she did not place, however she was awarded the community service award for outstanding service to the community. I really wanted Team Louisiana to win, but Tori is already a winner. At 13 she founded a nonprofit foundation, was accepted to a prestigious performing arts high school, and has a rocking single available for purchase on iTunes. At 13?! It's crazy! But she is humble and fully aware of her responsibility to the community. 

After the pageant we had rehearsal. 

Finals are creeping uppppp. I have no problem telling the truth:  I'm feeling anxious and unsettled, and prayerful that I make the Top 15. I want to be Miss Black USA 2012 and am anxious for the opportunity to really compete tomorrow. 

Tomorrow morning we will tour the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children before heading to the University of DC Performing Arts Theater for FINALS at 7p! Which shoooould be broadcast live via the Internet from the Miss Black USA website

Pageant Week: Day 4 (PRELIMS)

It's finally here! Prelim today. This morning we completed Part 1 - Fitness & Evening Gown. For fitness I wore a custom roller derby uniform with rhinestones on the back that said, "Captain", and of course it was my favorite color, purple.

For evening gown, I made a last minute decision to wear one Jovani gown over another, and I'm glad I did. Totally felt like a princess and rocked my walk! Felt really great about both. One great things to witness today was my beautiful sister queens HELPING one another backstage, curling hair, pinning fashion emergencies, and praying together. I was almost moved to tears at one point as I sat back and watched these phenomenal women help each other for this competition. 

It was also nice to see some of the great state directors that were also present this week to help their queens succeed. It's really great when Black women support each other, and it's a shame that more do not -__- 

Besties...Miss Black Illinois (Imani Josey) and Miss Black Washington (Domonique Price)

I couldn't have asked for a better roomie! Miss Black Massachusetts, Lenora Benson

Later in the evening we completed Part 2 of prelims - On-Stage question and Talent. I'm not even going to lie, both parts are now a blur to me! It was so fast!

My on-stage question asked me what would I like to see happen in the future to the long-standing staple "Barbie"....I said growing up I had few positive Black role models and because self-esteem and self-love in young girls is so important and starts at a young age, I would love to see more brown skin Barbies which reflect the vast array of women of color.

Talent....I don't feel I did bad at all. Definitely got the message across the way I intended. My talent was an adaptation of the poem, "The Sociology of the Black Woman". It is a very powerful statement and I'm glad I selected it.

Soooooo now IT's 2:00am and I'm so exhausted. Relieved that prelims are over, but incredibly anxious to find out the Top 15 on Monday. I want more than anything to make Top 15 and compete for the national title. 

Tomorrow we have the Prayer Breakfast and the 2012 Talented Teen Pageant. I'm excited to support my little sister Tori Turner take this pageant by storm!

Also, if you haven't cast your vote for me for People's Choice Award, PLEEEEEASE get on this NOW! Voting ends Sunday, August 12 at midnight! Vote here: www.missblackusa.org Thanks! Goodnight! I'm exhausted!

Pageant Week: Day 3

Here we go! So today was the first "official" day of prelims with our individual interviews with the judges. We were broken up in two groups by number (I'm number 4) and assigned a time to interview. 

First, we had amaaaaazing runway rehearsal with world-renowned model and actress Stacie McKenzie (You can see her in The 5th Element, the flight attendant with all the freckles before Chris Tucker makes his appearance in the movie). 

The role Stacie was handpicked from ONE photo in a magazine to play

She totally TRANSFORMED our walks and style to give us a new dynamic on-stage. I can now officially say I've been trained by a world class professional. We also found out that she will be co-hosting prelims tomorrow!


Next, we headed to dress for interviews. After taking a moment to as the Lord to order my steps and words, I walked into my interview and can say I rocked it! The questions weren't hard, as the other queens would agree, but they allowed me to really make the interview mine and show the judges who I am and what I am about. 

Waiting for my interview!

I'm ready to do the rest of the prelims tomorrow, show my stuff, and make Top 15! **Prelims will NOT be streamed online tomorrow, although the finals will be on Monday**

Mom, Chris, and Evan finally came in today and are enjoying DC!

What an experience to be practicing our opening number routine to "I'm Every Woman" on Whitney's BDay! Sooooo excited!

Pageant Week: Day 2

Orientation Day!

This morning the delegates attended our official orientation where we presented our stiletto project. Each lady was to prepare a short oral introduction and describe her special personality with her stiletto and an arts & craft visual made from a poster. Miss Black Alabama 2009 Kimberly Brown facilitated the event.

After a quick lunch, we each had our talent review with the pageant producer. Went very well and they liked it! SOOO excited to show everyone else!

In the hallway waiting for our talent review with the producer.

Then we went on to rehearsal for the opening number. Love the dance and Love the song!! Our choreographer did the dancing for Dreamgirls on Broadway!

Charis Wilder, Miss Black Alabama USA and I at opening number rehearsal.  Love her, but we will beat Bama this year!

After rehearsal we had a short break to prepare for a top secret evening activity. While waiting we ran into our little sisters, the Talented Teen delegates!! First time seeing my teen Tori Turner in months! Here she is!

We get upstairs to the CEO Suite and we are finally given our mission: The 2012 Miss Black USA Scavenger Hunt! Each team was required to take pics with the required items. Some of the required items included:

Someone over the age 65
Someone wearing The Red Dress pin
The Jefferson room of the hotel
A cute pic of stilettos
Etc. Etc, Etc

Although my group lost horribly (last place LOLOL) we had a great time. What a sight to see pageant contestants RUNNING around the hotel like this!

I had a really great day. We will close the evening out with a debriefing meeting with Mama K and then off to bed. We have a full day of rehearsals tomorrow including our first preliminary: THE INTERVIEW!

Pageant Week: Day 1

It is officially pageant week! I arrived in DC this morning and met up with Miss Black Michigan and Missouri to catch the shuttle to the Washington Hilton. After I was settled I put my gifts together for all the queens...a pageant week survival kit for each of them. Because I wouldn't be allowed to bring them to orientation tomorrow, I would have to find a creative way to get them to each delegate.

Alescia Maraboushontrell Hollowell, Miss Black Michigan USA &  Diana Atai Emuge, Miss Black Missouri USA 

After some free time, several other queens and I visited the Smithsonian sculpture garden and grabbed some lunch, then back to the hotel to get dressed for the 2012 Red Dress Reception.

The Heart Truth^® is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through the campaign, NHLBI leads the nation in a landmark heart health awareness movement that is being embraced by millions who share the common goal of better heart health for all women.

As a voice for the Heart Truth campaign, the Miss Black USA Organization strives to warn women about heart disease and provides tools to help them take action against its risk factors. 

Tonight's reception was a celebration of the hard work we have all completed throughout our reigns, The Heart Truth AND our personal platform. Each delegate was allowed a chance to introduce themselves and their platform and give the group their favorite quote upon closing.

Domonique Price, Miss Black Washington USA & Imani Josey, Miss Black Illinois USA

Shelby Jenkins, Miss Black Kentucky USA

After the reception all the queens came to our room (Miss Black Massachusetts and I :) ) and got their gifts. Everyone was surprised and loved them! Thanks Brenda lol!

Bedtime. Orientation and rehearsals start tomorrow!