Radiating different shades of melanin so rich it could make a sunset jealous, Black Beauty Queens have strutted, slayed the pageant stage, and shaken up the status quo. When Beyoncé sang Brown Skin Girl, it served as a reminder that every shade of Black beauty is worthy of admiration.
Back in the day, when “beauty” was often defined by whiteness, Black women were banned from participating in major beauty pageants. For the first nearly 50 years of the Miss America pageant, only whites were allowed to contest. Rule 7 of the competition blatantly stated contestants must be “of good health and of the white race.”
Following the pageant’s long history of excluding women of color, Black Americans set up their own contest in 1968. Two years later, Cheryl Browne broke the racial barriers of Miss America. In 1970, she became the first Black woman to be a contestant in the Miss America pageant. That same year, Jennifer Hosten became the Black woman to be crowned Miss World since its creation in 1951.
Steadily, Black representation in pageants continued to increase. 2019 arrived, and the beauty pageant world got a healthy dose of melanin goodness. For the first time in history, the winners of America’s three biggest beauty pageants were all Black women. Miss America, Miss Teen USA, Miss USA, Miss World, and Miss Universe all crowned Black women for the first time.
From the early trailblazers who dared to step onto stages where they weren’t always welcomed and changed the world’s view of beauty, to today’s beauty queens who use their platforms for activism, these women not only secured the crown but also left a legacy for the generations of Brown Skin Girls coming in the future.
This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the iconic Black beauty queens who overcame obstacles pre-determined by their skin color and redefined what it means to be beautiful.
Vanessa Williams, Miss America 1984
In 1984, 21-year-old Vanessa Williams became the first Black woman to win the Miss America title. Though she relinquished her title due to scandal, Williams has had a brilliant career in show business, earning Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominations.
Halle Berry, Miss USA 1986
Before she was an Oscar-winning superstar, Halle Berry started her career as a model and competed in various beauty pageants, placing first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant and sixth in the Miss World pageant in 1986.
Kenya Moore – Miss USA 1993
Representing Michigan, she rose to prominence in 1993 after winning the Miss USA contest. The actor, model, and television personality became the second African American woman to win the pageant and later represented the United States at Miss Universe 1993, placing in the top six.
Chelsi Smith – Miss Universe 1995
She won the title of Miss Texas in 1995 and went on to win Miss USA and Miss Universe just months later. In doing so, Smith became the first and only woman from Texas to win both pageants, as well as the first American woman in 15 years to claim the Miss Universe title. She passed on in 2018 after suffering from liver cancer for just over a year.
Wendy Fitzwilliam – Miss Universe 1998
Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Wendy Fitzwilliam, won the Miss Universe 1998 title in Honolulu, Hawaii. The lawyer, actress, model, singer, and TV Host became the second Miss Universe in history from Trinidad and Tobago and was the third woman of African heritage to capture the Miss Universe crown.
Mpule Kwelagobe – Miss Universe 1999
On 26 May 1999, Mpule Keneilwe Kwelagobe was crowned Miss Universe at the age of 19, making history as the first African woman to win one of the Big Four international beauty pageants. Today, Kwelagobe is involved in making policies regarding HIV/AIDS in Washington and participates in many charitable organizations.
Agbani Darego – Miss World 2001
Agbani won Miss World 2001, shattering stereotypes and becoming the first Black woman of African descent to hold the title. She had won the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) title before going to represent the country on the world stage.
Rachel Smith – Miss USA 2007
Rachel, who had previously competed in the Miss Teen USA 2002 pageant, captured the title of Miss USA at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles in 2007. She represented the United States at Miss Universe 2007 and placed 4th runner-up.
Crystle Stewart – Miss USA 2008
In 2008, Crystle Stewart became the ninth Texan to win the Miss USA crown. The University of Houston grad advanced to the Miss Universe pageant, and despite falling during the evening gown competition, she finished eighth. She has been serving as the national director of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA since 2020.
Leila Lopes – Miss Universe 2011
Miss Lopes was crowned Miss Universe 2011 in São Paulo, Brazil, on September 12, 2011, after beating 88 competitors. Prior to being crowned, Miss Lopes held the title of Miss Angola.
Deshauna Barber – Miss USA 2016
A motivational speaker and captain in the United States Army Reserve, Deshauna Barber was the first military service member to be crowned Miss USA. She represented the United States at Miss Universe 2016, where she placed among the top nine finalists.
Kára McCullough – Miss USA 2017
Kára McCullough was crowned Miss USA 2017. As Miss USA, McCullough represented the United States at Miss Universe 2017, where she placed in the top ten.
Nia Franklin – Miss America 2019
Nia Franklin took over the crown of Miss America from Cara Mund at the crowning ceremony held at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 2019. The American composer was crowned Miss New York in 2018.
Kaliegh Garris – Miss Teen USA 2019
The 18-year-old Connecticut native showed off her natural curls as she tearfully accepted the title of Miss Teen USA 2019. The professional model is the second entrant from Connecticut to have been crowned Miss Teen USA, following Logan West, who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2012.
Zozibini Tunzi – Miss Universe 2019
This South African model was crowned Miss Universe 2019. She was previously crowned Miss South Africa 2019. A huge advocate for natural beauty, Tunzi is the third woman from South Africa to win the title and the first black woman since Angolan Leila Lopes was crowned Miss Universe 2011.
Cheslie Kryst – Miss USA 2019
On May 2, 2019, 28-year-old Cheslie Kryst was named Miss USA. As Miss USA, she represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2019 competition and finished in the top ten.
Kryst died by suicide on January 30, 2022, three months before her 31st birthday. Her mother revealed she suffered from depression and that “she hid from everyone.” Before she died, Kryst wrote a note to her mom asking her to get the book she’d written published. By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie’s Smile and Mental Illness, written by Kryst and finished after her death by her mom, April Simpkins, recounts her struggles — and the moment her mother learned she was gone.
Though she left too soon, her impact will never be forgotten. May her legacy inspire us to check in on one another, embrace vulnerability, and continue the conversation on mental health with compassion and understanding.
Toni-Ann Singh – Miss World 2019
On December 14, 23-year-old Toni-Ann Singh from Jamaica was officially crowned Miss World 2019. She was previously crowned Miss Jamaica World 2019 and is the fourth woman from Jamaica to win Miss World. She is also the longest-reigning Miss World in the history of the pageant.
From being excluded from participating in beauty competitions to winning all major crowns in the mainstream pageant world, Black women have proven that Black beauty not only matters but reigns.
Nyekachi Douglas – Top 5 & Miss World Africa 2019
The Nigerian model emerged as the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2019 and represented Nigeria at the Miss World pageant, where she finished as Miss World Top Model and won the Beauty with a Purpose challenge. She made it to the top 5 overall out of 111 contestants, and she was crowned as Miss World Africa.
Her heartwarming reaction after losing Miss World caught the world’s attention. After Miss Jamaica, Toni-Ann Singh, was named Miss World, Douglas let out an excited yelp as she did a happy dance while congratulating and hugging her friend.
Olivia Yace – Second Runner-Up, Miss World 2021
The 23-year-old marketing and management major student and former runway model dazzled the world with her poise, intelligence, and natural beauty at Miss World 2021, emerging as the second runner-up. This was the highest her country Cote D’Ivoire has ever achieved in Miss World history. She was the only African beauty queen to make it to the top six and also won the Miss World Top Model 2021 title.
Maristella Okpala – Miss Universe Nigeria 2021
This beauty queen was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2021 and became the official representative of Nigeria at Miss Universe 2021, where she won the award for Best National Costume in the pageant.
Lalela Mswane – Miss Supranational 2022
She made history by being crowned as the first black and the first South African to win Miss Supranational. The South African beauty beat out 70 other contestants from around the world for the coveted title and crown.
Lalela Mswane won the Miss South Africa 2021 crown and went on to represent her country at Miss Universe 2021, where she placed as the second runner-up.
Chidimma Adetsina – First Runner-Up, Miss Universe 2024
Nigeria’s beauty queen finished as the first runner-up at the keenly contested Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico. From withdrawing from the Miss South Africa pageant to winning Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, Chidimma’s journey is a testament to her remarkable resilience. She made history as the first Nigerian to be crowned Miss Universe first runner-up since Agbani Darego’s legendary top 10 finish in 2001.
Lesogo Chombo – Miss World Africa 2024
A lawyer by profession, she was crowned Miss Botswana 2022. Lesego Chombo from Botswana was crowned 71st Miss World Africa at the Jio World Convention Center, Mumbai, India, on 9 March 2024. Although she fell just short of winning the coveted title of Miss World, she made it to the top four. She was also appointed Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs at just 26, becoming Africa’s youngest minister.
Logina Salah – Semi-Finals, Miss Universe 2024
Egypt’s Logina Salah made history at Miss Universe 2024, not because she won the crown but because she won the hearts of everyone present as she shattered stereotypes, becoming the first-ever contestant with vitiligo to grace the competition’s stage. She also became the first Egyptian contestant to make it to the top 30 in the pageant’s 73-year history.
