Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Sept. 30, 1993, edition 2 / Page 4
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SPECIAL P?P0?7 For one weekend Walt Disney World was transformed into a land of African American royalty. Fifty African-American college queens descended upon the Magic Kingdom for the seventh annual Miss Col legiate African-American Pageant at the Disney MGM Studios in Orlando, Fla. By conference the eight semi-finalists represented each athletic conference and one independent. However, after the ulti mate test of poise, intellect, talent and crace, only Howard University's Rosalind Wl.ite survived the challenge of 49 other contestants and a six lioui television pro duction to earn the title of Miss Collegiate - African American. ? The show will air this month on local television stations throughout the country via the World African Network. Although not an athletic contest, White admitted that the competition was difficult. The length of the production, performing before judges and a live studio audience pushed her to the limit. "It was like working out," she said, "when I thought I couldn't do that last pushup, 1 found .the strength to push through." Whi{e, a music and theater major from Suitland, Md., will be the unofficial anhxissador of the African-American col legiate experience for the next year. Dur ing her reign she will tour 20 cities and . meet with various civic, political, college and high school representatives carrying a message of faith and education. "I want to move people through God and my public speaking," she added. The contestants arrived in Orlando - two weeks before the night of the TV pro duction for rehearsals and preliminary interviews, whe.^e the competition official ly began. Based on those results the field was reduced to its elite eight. Joining White as semifinal ists were: Miss Florida A&M, Denise Barrett; Miss Norfolk State, Janeen Jackson, Miss Morgan State, Tiffany McMillan; Miss Texas Southern, Michelle Langham; Miss Prairie View A&M, Cynthia Lester; Miss Fort Valley State, Kimberly Hayes; and Miss Oak wood College, Carmen Hope. Each semiflnalist competed in the tal ent, evening gown and question and answer phases of the contest which were taped for the broadcast, which was hosted by actor Morris Chestnut of the movie "Boys in the Hood*! and actress Cynda Williams, who starred in "Mo* Better Blues.** White performed a poetic oration that ended With a song in the talent phase. She began establishing her poise by respond ing to the first question from judge Mike Easterling. 'There is no adversity, power or force that can stop you with God on your side,** she proclaimed. . The most elegant part of the pageant was the parade Of Afiiian Amenuim princesses known as the evening gown competition. However, after that phase the field was reduced to the final four. Morgan State's McMillan, Langham of Texas Southern and Oak wood's Hope, joined White as semifinalists. With the three other finalists lockqd inside a sound-proof booth, each contes tant had one last chance to impress the judges by answering a question from Chestnut. Each was required to think swiftly and answer fluidly. Afterwards the judges' decision was read: Third runner up. Miss Morgan State; .second runner up, Miss Texas Southern; and first runner up, Miss Oakwood. Once her name was announced as the winner, White threw her hands in the air tri umphantly racing God, as though it was a religious experience in church. White said that her course of study at Howard prepared her to handle the pres sure situation. She also gave credit to her instructors for helping her remain poised through the competition. "I've had some tough task masters who have drilled me," she said. "I'm sure we all had the same thoughts, but I knew how to deal with them." For earning the Miss Collegiate African American title. White received $10,000 cash, a trip for two to Africa from WDAS-FM in Philadelphia and cosmetics from Maybelline. The tour begins this month. Meanwhile, Miss North Carolina A&T Machelle Cato won the Henrietta Gibbs Unity Award. The award, which is given to the contestant who promotes the most sisterhood throughout the pageant, is selected by her peers. The winner receives a trip to next year's pageant to present the award to her successor. It is named after the late contestant who won the unity award in 1990 and later died of leukemia. Miss Collegiate African-American 1993 , Rasalind While of Howard University , takes her first walk as queen . (photo by Wade Nash). Eugene Jackson, president of the World African Network; Sandra Adams , executive director of MCAAP; actor Morris Chestnut; Rosalind White t Miss Coilegiate African-American 1993; actress Cynda WUliams; Phyllis Tucker; Vinson Jackson , vice president of WAN; and Frank Mercado Valdex, founder of MCAAP .
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Sept. 30, 1993, edition 2
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