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NEWS
| JAN. 28
Queen of the Night
Carliss Charles is named the 26th
Miss African-American Queen at Saturday’s pageant.
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| The Shorthorn: Casey Horn |
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By Candace
Sweat
Contribution to The Shorthorn
Just one hour before show time, two dressing
rooms behind the Rosebud Theatre curtain were crammed with stylists,
make-up artist, mothers and friends. All were frantically curling
hair, blushing cheeks or tugging at the blouses of nine Miss African-American
UTA hopefuls.
Only minutes before the show, contestant Danielle Keys dangled her
legs casually over the edge of the stage watching the auditorium
fill up.
“I am very tired yet anxious to know who the winner will be
because we are all so talented,” the public relations sophomore
said.
Alpha Phi Alpha hosted the 26th Annual Miss African-American UTA
Pageant in the University Center on Saturday evening. The event,
titled “Faces of Queens”, showcased nine contestants competing
for one crown. They competed in categories ranging from an on-stage
interview to a swim wear competition.
In the end, former Miss African-American UTA Valerie Long would
crown Carliss Charles the 2002-03 winner, but no one could know
how the night would end as contestants wandered out into the rapidly-filling
theater.
It was only 6:15, and Keys already had friends and family seated
in the audience. Meanwhile, drama unfolded backstage as participants
made last-minute adjustments. Carla Swann, mother of participant
Cambre Swann, stood near the dressing rooms ready to help anyone
in need.
“Its been a long experience, so now I feel like a mother to
all the girls,” she said. “[Cambre] hasn’t done this
since she was a little girl, so I am very excited.”
By 6:50, pageant coordinator Joachima Laurent ran around frantically
handing out beads for the Mardi Gras-themed opener. Laurent won
the 2000-01 national crown.
“Get your beads on, and you have five minutes to be on stage!”
she yelled.
Diamond Morris, Syreeta Clarke, Danielle Keys, Jona Mathis, Christine
Fraser, Jaynaia Williams, Cambre Swann, Jheri Cavitt and Charles
assembled for their entrance.
The crowd of about 200 stood for the invocation and singing of the
Negro National Anthem as lights dimmed to a red glow.
The masked women stealthily entered along the wings of the dark
stage, a mysterious melody providing an appropriate background.
The lights came up, and the nine contestants transitioned into a
high-energy dance number to begin the pageant.
Mistress of Ceremony Janiqua Jiles announced the start of the first
category — achievements and projection.
Each contestant took center stage to recite a condensed biography
and future career plans. They spoke loudly and clearly with emphasis
on articulation, a result of four months of voice training.
The swim wear category was next. This portion of the pageant, judged
earlier that day, resulted in very little time on stage that night.
“They did not want us to have to stand in front of the crowd
in our swim wear for an extended amount of time,” Swann said.
Still, the women were all smiles as they walked the stage scantily
clad in brightly-colored swim wear.
A short segment of outside entertainment interrupted the pageantry.
The group Versastyle sang a romantic ballad dedicated to the contestants
and women in the audience.
The first portion of the pageant passed with few technical difficulties
and both contestants and guests took a brief intermission.
“It is put together very well,” public relations junior
Kayla B. Jones. “They all seem very qualified.”
The crowd began to take their seats for the second half of the event,
including the poise appearance category. The women graced the stage
in various styles of glittering evening wear. Like voice projection,
months of work went into the proper walk.
After a few minutes of deliberation, judges handed their decision
to Jiles who announced Charles as the winner.
“I’m still in shock,” the communications technology
senior said. “I’m very honored. I didn’t expect this
at all.”
Charles will travel to Woodland, for a state competition Feb. 13-15.
She will compete with 30 other contestants for the state title.
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