New beginning for Miss Black Minnesota USA Scholarship Pageant

By Donald W.R. Allen, II
Contributing Writer

The 2011 Miss Black Minnesota USA Scholarship Pageant seeks to re-establish its longtime goal of education, leadership, and celebrating the accomplishments of young African American women. On December 4, 2010 a new Miss Black Minnesota USA will be crowned at Ted Mann Hall on the University of Minnesota campus.

This year’s Miss Black Minnesota USA Scholarship Pageant will be unlike the pageants of the past. So far this pageant cycle, local contestants have participated in a number of leadership events including the United Way Food Drive on November 7 that proved to be a huge success in teaching the values of giving back to the community.

Over the past 10 years, the Miss Black Minnesota USA Scholarship Pageant has been a local event, not totally connected with the national pageant.

This meant a local winner would be crowned, but Minnesota had no representation at the national pageant.

This year, pageant organizers X-Cel Entertainment and NexLevel Entertainment have obtained the national licenses for Minnesota, which means that the winner of this year’s pageant will then go on to represent Minnesota at the Miss Black USA Pageant.

Where some pageants place an emphasis on “beauty,” the Miss Black Minnesota USA Scholarship Pageant’s goal is to provide a positive platform for young Black women between the ages of five and 27 to showcase their creativity, inherent beauty and intellect. Through the recognition of their groundbreaking achievements, the organization works to create opportunities that continue to develop the participants’ “whole woman mind, body and spirit.”

Pageant organizers have also stepped up the entertainment for this year’s event. R&B recording artist Kenny Lattimore will be a special guest performer.

Local artists holy hip hopper KJ and jazz duo Wenso Ashby featuring Zsamé will be performing as well.

Also, just announced by NexLevel Entertainment and X-Cel Entertainment Group in conjunction with the Twin Cities Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., celebrity DJ Kid Capri will be in Minneapolis for the after party to be held at Loft 2 (OM Restaurant & Lounge), 401 First Avenue North. (RSVP on Facebook: Search for “2010 Miss Black Minnesota USA.”)

This event is for all ages; ticket prices range from $25 to $40. Purchase tickets at www.showclix.com/event/14843/. For more information, call 1-888-530-4613, email info@missblackminnesota.org, or go to www.MissBlackMinne sotausa.com.