Scholarships

Miss Black USA Announces New Scholarship Opportunity With Delaware State University

Miss Black USA Announces The Expansion of Scholarship Opportunities for Girls of Color
Delaware State University Offers Full Ride to Winner of Miss Black USA Talented Teen


(MARYLAND-JULY 12, 2022)- Announced today, the Miss Black USA Organization in partnership with Delaware State University is pleased to announce the establishment of a Full Tuition Scholarship for the Annual Winner of the Miss Black USA Talented Teen recipient.

 Karen Arrington is the Founder and CEO of Miss Black USA, a national scholarship pageant that celebrates the achievements of young women of color through the awarding of scholarships each year.

“We are so very grateful to our current Miss Black USA Talented Teen, Jacqueline Means, and her mother, JoAnn Means, for working with DSU leadership to create such an unprecedented academic opportunity for the future winners of the pageant.” Arrington says.

Miss Black USA Talented Teen is the little sister organization of Miss Black USA, Inc., and it is a multi- faceted pageant and movement dedicated to elevating the narratives of Black women, shining light on the nexus of achievements of women of color whose contributions often go unnoticed in mainstream media.

Created in 2008, the Miss Black USA Talented Teen national pageant program focuses on positive identity development, talent development and showcase, civic engagement and leadership for girls ages 14-19. Miss Black USA Talented Teen celebrates the talents and achievements of its state titleholders through its annual national pageant and through the awarding of scholarship and career opportunities.

Delaware State University’s Full Tuition Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship up to four years (Fall & Spring Semesters only) awarded by the Office of Admissions to entering full-time, first-year freshmen who are United States citizens. This scholarship covers the gap between tuition of the college minus any Federal Title IV and/ or state grant funding (i.e. Inspire Scholarship) Does not cover travel expenses, room and board, various student fees, or other costs.

Scholars must be regularly admitted and enroll in the fall semester immediately following high school graduation. In addition, scholars are required to enroll and successfully complete 15 hours of academic coursework fall and spring semesters and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.30. 

“Delaware State University, Miss Black USA Talented Teen, and Miss Black USA, Inc. a partnership to advance talented young ladies is so ordered.” stated Dr. Tony Allen, President & Chief Executive Officer, Delaware State University.

The Miss Black USA Organization is the first and largest scholarship pageant for women of color, awarding over $500,000 in scholarships.  The pageant empowers women to own their power and celebrates their unique talents, traits, and beauty.  Miss Black USA defines her own standard of beauty and celebrates the whole woman, mind, body and spirit, all shades of brown, hair texture and size.  Miss Black USA is a non-profit corporation headquartered in the state of Maryland.

”The pageant allows for Black women to have a platform to showcase the power and beauty of being unapologetically Black,” stated Karen Arrington, CEO & Founder of Miss Black USA, Inc. “Our organization is highly respected and has redefined what it means to be a courageous, compassionate, and confident woman of color. 

To learn more about this year’s Talented Teen pageant, please visit: https://www.missblackusatalentedteen.org/ 

More about Miss Black USA

Founded in 1987, the Miss Black USA™ Pageant is an internationally recognized organization that is committed to empowering women to use their voices to make a difference in society. It is the first and oldest scholarship pageant for women of color, and has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships.  For the past two and a half decades the pageant has received positive broadcast and editorial coverage in leading international and US national media outlets including: USA Today, Good Morning America Now, NBC Nightly News, New York Times, Washington Post, MSNBC, Black Voice, The Roots, and BET Network. Miss Black USA™ is a highly respected organization redefining what it means to be a courageous, compassionate and confident woman of color.


US Virgin Islands' Akira Pickering Crowned Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2018

Washington, D.C., July 1, 2018. -- The Miss Black USA Organization crowned Akira Pickering as Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2018 at TheARC Theater in Washington, D.C.  The event, which took place on Sunday, July 1, featured young women across the U.S. and the Virgin Islands.

Pickering is a 16-year-old high school junior temporarily relocated to Fayetteville, North Carolina after experiencing the devastation and destruction of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.  Despite being born with temporary stridor, a medical condition where the inside of the throat is not fully formed and the ability to speak and eat is impaired, Akira wowed the Judges with a winning talent performance of "Stand Up for Love" by Destiny's Child. 

Contestants competed in Talent, Athletic Wear, Evening Gown, and On Stage Interview.  Angela Pierre-Louis crowned Akira her successor at the conclusion of the annual event.  

Final Results:   

First Runner-Up:  Miss Black North Carolina Talented Teen USA Jaala McCall
Second Runner-Up:  Miss Black New York Talented Teen USA Damitri'ana Douglas
Third Runner-Up:  Miss Illinois Teen USA Sydni-Dion Bennett

For the first time ever, MISS BLACK USA TALENTED TEEN USA® took place in conjunction with MS. BLACK USA, the first national Mis. Black USA pageant for women of color ages 28 to 35 years. 

A part of her prize package, the new Miss Black USA Talented Teen receives a $2,500 scholarship for continued education; travel opportunities representing The Miss Black USA Organization, sponsors, and charitable partners; and a personal appearance wardrobe allowance.

For crowning moment video of Akira, please visit HERE.

Find MISS BLACK TALENTED TEEN USA® on Facebook and follow on Instagram.

 

Win $5,000 Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls

In keeping with its mission to empower girls through education, the Miss Black USA Organization has established the Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls.  The $5,000 scholarship is open to any high school senior in the U.S. who is a member of the Class of 2017.  The deadline to apply is now closed for 2017.  Application for 2018 will open on January 1, 2018.