ADVERTISEMENT

Black girl magic! Women of colour win major beauty pageants across the world

Black women are taking over the beauty world, and they're not leaving anytime soon.

Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America 2019 are all black women [Insider]

This indeed is a great time in the history of beauty pageants. Over the years, top beauty pageants have been known to be not-so-favourable to women of colour. As a matter of fact, when you look back at the 1920s, women of color were actually barred from participating in beauty pageants. But a shift has been taking place between then till this point.

When Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi, with her dark skin and low cut hair was named Miss Universe on Sunday, December 8, it was a further typification of the cultural transformation of pageantry we seem to be experiencing, and the giant leaps that are apparently being taken by these events to ensure genuine inclusion.

And Tunzi herself recognises this. After her heartwarming triumph, she spoke about how conventional beauty standards haven't always included black skin and hair like hers, while also encouraging women to embrace themselves and love who they are.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tunzi is the first black woman from South Africa to hold the Miss Universe title as an advocate for natural beauty. One implication of this, alongside all the beauty victories earned by black women in 2019, is that it goes a long way to change the narrative that light skin and long hair are the beauty standards for pageants and society at large. Black women do not necessarily need to bleach their skin or carry long artificial hair to feel beautiful. We've always known this, staunchly believed in it and have always advocated it. That these brown and black skin women are being recognised and duly crowned as beauty standards by these constituted panels just further lends credence to it.

If you didn't believe that black women are the real deal, here's some more evidence for you that black women do indeed rock!

Miss USA 2019, Cheslie Kryst became the oldest person to be crowned Miss USA at 28 years. She received the crown on Thursday, May 2 at the Reno Tahoe’s Grand Sierra Resort and Casino’s Grand Theatre. She represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2019 competition and finished in the Top 10.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hailing from North Carolina, Kryst practices civil litigation for a law firm and has a passion for helping prisoners who may have been sentenced unjustly get reduced punishments, free of charge.

Kryst's win also proves that a beauty pageant can be won at an older age as she became the oldest woman to have won the crown at 28. Age is no longer a barrier for women of color when it comes to beauty pageant. This means you can achieve whatever you want, if you put your ind to it, no matter the age and time. Just like Kryst , a licensed lawyer practicing in two different states with an MBA ,and a beauty queen. Now, that's a good combination of beauty and brains.

Miss America 2019, Nia Franklin was crowned as Miss America 2019 on Sunday, September 9, 2018. Franklin remembers what music did for her. Now she tries to inspire children in the same way. An opera singer, Franklin discovered her identity through music. Representing New York, the 23-year-old showed her passion for music during the competition. This past year, she has been an advocate for the arts.

She works with Sing for Hope, a nonprofit focused on helping people, including children and artists, through the power of music.

ADVERTISEMENT

This win proves your talent and dreams as a black woman is valid. You do not need to bleach your skin or look a certain to be recognized in the beauty world. She changed the standard by winning Miss USA as a dark skin woman and black female composer with two degrees.

Miss Teens USA, Kaliegh Garris was crowned on April 28, 2019. When Garris took the Miss Teen USA stage Sunday, she did it with confidence as she wore her natural hair. The 18-year-old queen said, "I know what I look like with straight hair, with extensions, and with my curly hair, and I feel more confident and comfortable with my natural hair."

When she began competing in pageants, Garris spoke about fighting against beauty standards suggesting that straight hair was better than her natural curls.

We're inspired by Garris' win as it changes the standards of hairstyles, especially at beauty pageants. Who says our thick and natural curls aren't good enough for pageant? Well, Garris win just proved it is. Women of colours can now wear the natural curls with pride and the confidence they need to walk into any room.

ADVERTISEMENT

These black beauty queens have given us hope that women of color should ditch the old beauty standards and be confident in their skin, and uniqueness.

As we await Miss World 2019, beauty pageant, which is set to hold on December 14, 2019 at the Excel London in London, we wish the black women all the best.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

5 countries you won’t believe still practice female genital mutilation

5 countries you won’t believe still practice female genital mutilation

Wole Soyinka and 6 other Africans who changed the course of history

Wole Soyinka and 6 other Africans who changed the course of history

The 5 most famous laws in the world

The 5 most famous laws in the world

Is squirting real? How to squirt or make someone squirt during intercourse

Is squirting real? How to squirt or make someone squirt during intercourse

How to cut onions without crying

How to cut onions without crying

My husband of 30 years is a great friend — I want to divorce him

My husband of 30 years is a great friend — I want to divorce him

5 ways to make your boyfriend feel wanted

5 ways to make your boyfriend feel wanted

5 common skin problems and how to avoid them

5 common skin problems and how to avoid them

7 signs your personality scares people off

7 signs your personality scares people off

Booty call or BFF? Here's what friends with benefits mean and how it works

Booty call or BFF? Here's what friends with benefits mean and how it works

Can eating groundnuts boost your sperm count? What to know

Can eating groundnuts boost your sperm count? What to know

How to make cranberry juice for better sexual performance

How to make cranberry juice for better sexual performance

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT