Mississippi winner Kristy Johnson, alumna of Jackson State University, proves beauty queens are more than a pretty face as she prepares to represent the state in the Miss Black USA National Scholarship Pageant.
Her platform, “Be Empowered,” focuses on reprogramming youth into believing in themselves, their communities and surroundings. During her reign, she will host summits, service projects and other community activities throughout Mississippi. “Because service is near and dear to my heart, this great state needs to see more activism within our younger populations. Each of us has a skill that we can use for the greater good of our communities,” Johnson said.
Johnson will represent Mississippi in the national pageant Aug. 2-7, 2017, in D.C. She will vie for a $5,000 academic scholarship, a trip to Africa, wardrobe by Liliana Shoes and ORS Olive Oil Hair products. As well, the winner will serve as a celebrity advocate for the Heart Truth campaign, which raises awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death of women in the U.S.
Miss Black USA is the nation’s premier pageant for women of color. To date, the nonprofit organization, headquartered in Maryland, has awarded more than $450,000 in scholarships to its participants.