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The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Alpha Phi Alpha crowns Miss Black and Gold

    Miss Black and Gold

    Miss Gionne Hollingsworth, Sydney Banks and Si-Arah McCray performed a dance in unison as they announced their achievements and projections in phase one of the contest. 

    The Lion’s Roar / Tamara Alexander

    Beauty mixed with poise, etiquette, talent and intelligence are all a part of beauty pageants.

    The Kappa Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha hosted their annual Miss Black and Gold Pageant in the student union ballroom at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6 with a cost of $2 with proceeds going to their philanthropy March of Dimes. 

    The theme of this year’s pageant was “Legacy Laced in Gold” and had a total of three contestants.  

    The pageant is a Legacy which started some years ago and has continued to this day. 

    “The history behind Miss Black and Gold started some years ago by a couple of brothers looking for a young lady to represent the fraternity in a greater light,” said Thomas Moore, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and pageant coordinator. “The idea behind Miss Black and Gold is the young lady that wins the pageant is a product of a young lady that can hold themselves as in a queenly manner and represent themselves and something bigger than themselves at the same time.” 

    As the pageant began, the contestants had to go through phases. The phases consisted of achievements and projections, creative and performing arts, swimwear, poise and appearance in evening gown and oral expression. The contestants were judged on each one of these phases. 

    Through the preparation, the contestants grew and learned more about themselves.

    “Its more than just putting people on stage showing their talent, and having them walking around to music. It’s getting them ready and confident in themselves, and I see the change in them because all of them were shy and not wanting to do the pageant, but they stuck with it and went out and performed,” said Moore. 

    As the contestants learned more about themselves, the winner was also awarded with a scholarship. 

    “The scholarship is only for the winner of Miss Black and Gold to know. That’s the secrecy behind it. We are a fraternity so we hold our secrets dear, but it is a generous amount,” said Moore. 

    The process of Miss Black and Gold does not stop just at the local level. 

    “This is a stepping stone for her to represent the Kappa Nu Chapter at the district level,” said Moore. “From here she will compete in the district pageant, if she wins that the amount of money increases so as she competes, the amount increases.”

    After the contestants went through each phase the scores were tallied and the winner was announced.

    The winner was Miss Si-Arah McCray, a junior majoring in Family Consumer Science. McCray was ecstatic at winning. 

    “It feels great, I am honored, blessed highly, favored and everything. I really want to thank the Kappa Nu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., for allowing me this opportunity. I am so excited,” said McCray. 

    Even though the pageant took a lot of practice and sacrifice, she shed light on those who would like to participate in pageants.  

    “I want them to know that they can do anything they put their minds to no matter the size, the color of the hair, it doesn’t matter. You can do anything you put your mind to,” said McCray 

    The Kappa Nu chapter was pleased with the end product of the pageant.

    “As far as my outcome of the pageant, it was awesome. It came out really well, and the girls did a really great job,” said Moore. 

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