MEET OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF JUDGES
Tonille Simone Watkis is the former Miss Black USA 2016. An alumna of Adelphi University and The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, she has always enjoyed traveling and experiencing other cultures. Tonille is a dual citizen who originally hails from the USA but, grew up spending her summers and holiday breaks from school on the island of Jamaica, her second home. Her love for pageantry motivated her to continue competing and in 2018 she was crowned Miss Jamaica Supranational and went on to represent her beautiful island in Poland. However, it was the amazing year of reign as Miss Black USA that Tonille spent traveling to Cuba, Jamaica and all over the United States that made her develop an even stronger love for aviation. She now spends the majority of her time in the air as a private flight attendant for the NHL and professional sports teams. Tonille is so honored to serve as a judge for the Miss Black USA Talented Teen Pageant to welcome a new generation of brilliant young women into the sisterhood that changed her life.
Kevin J. Wade is a Southern Gentleman who stems from North Carolinian roots. He is a highly sought after International Corporate Image & Pageant Coach, SOLOpreneur, Lead Consultant, and Global Strategist. Having a long-standing career in pageantry, Kevin J. Wade boasts nearly 20 years of experience in pageant production, direction, styling and coaching. He has coached clients for various pageant systems including Miss Black USA, Miss America and Miss USA as well as other systems on international soils. Wade considers the Miss Black USA system “home” where he has an impressive record of national titleholders and top 5 finalists. Aside from pageantry, Wade is dedicated to higher education and serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU). He was also the first official Mr. Elizabeth City State University (2001-2002). Kevin is currently completing his doctoral degree in Higher Educational Leadership at Morgan State University with hopes to become a college president of an HBCU.
Jasmin Cruell graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications from Fayetteville State University. Upon graduation, she entered the workforce as a public relations consultant for a boutique firm in her hometown of Raleigh, NC. She then moved to Washington, D.C., to transition her public relations skills into the world of revenue management at Entertainment Cruises. In 2019, Sessoms returned to her alma mater as Assistant Director of Development. She currently serves as a Senior Marketing Manager for a national technology company. Jasmin entered pageantry at the early age of three years old. In 2011 captured the national itle of Miss Black USA Talented Teen. Jasmin is a multitalented singer and also had the honor of serving as Miss Black and Gold for the state of North Carolina in 2013. Jasmin faces the marketing industry with creativity, strategic analysis, and digital expertise, creativity and a cheerful Miss Black USA wave.