Miss Black and Gold Interest Meeting on September 13

Plans are underway for the 2018-19 Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Competition set for November 329, 2018 at Prairie View A&M University.

First step is the interest meeting for candidates for the pageant on September 13 in the Student Government Association Chamber.

The pageant committee invites all interested young ladies to attend this meeting and receive first hand information from pageant leaders, including the current Miss Black and Gold

winners, i.e. Jasmine Blackmon (Black and Gold-Eta Gamma) and Destiny Jefferson (Miss TCAC and Black and Gold-Epsilon Tau Lambda), and Pageant Co-Chairs Regan Johnson (Eta Gamma) and Frederick Roberts (Epsilon Tau Lambda).  Prospective candidates will learn about the pageant, responsibility and requirements for the pageant. Following the meeting each young lady will be invited for an 8-minute personal interview for consideration to the pageant stage.

The Black and Gold Pageant began in 1976 as a national program of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  The pageant went on hiatus and returned in 1982.  The Pageant is one way we assist young women in becoming the professionals they ought to be.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca New York on December 4, 1906.  The fraternity’s commitment to excellence among the members has been extended to providing programs to enhance the welfare of the community.

Two major changes have been made to the 2018-19 program to include the name to the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Competition, with no reference to 'Pageant', and replacing the swimsuit competition with the Lifestyle and Fitness Competition, designed to showcase the young lady in terms of her physical form in relation to her concern for health and well-being.    The contestant is judged in either swimwear or lifestyle and fitness attire. If the contestants choose to wear swimwear, a sarong may now be worn throughout the entire time on stage.

 

In the past three years, the young women from Prairie View A&M University have won at the district and regional levels, beginning with Nadia Green as Miss Eta Gamma winning the title of TCAC (Texas) Miss Black & Gold and Briana Clark, Miss Epsilon Tau Lambda, as 2nd Runner-up in 2014; Adibisi Adeneje, Miss Eta Gamma winning the TCAC (Texas) and SW Region Miss Black & Gold in 2015, with Kiera Hooey, Miss Epsilon Tau Lambda as 1st Runner-up; Joselyn Eusury Miss Eta Gamma and Christina Balthazar Epsilon Tau Lambda being named to top Seven in 2016; and Nakisha Francois, Miss Eta Gamma and Moriah Cobert, Miss Epsilon Tau Lambda being named 2nd Runner-up to TCAC Miss Black & Gold in 2017 and then Destiny Jefferson, Miss Epsilon Tau Lambda was 1st Runner-up and then Miss TCAC 2018-19. 

Several of the former contestants have competed in other pageants, including winning the Miss Prairie View A&M University title i.e. Ivy Walls in 2015 and Moriah Cobert 2017.

Persons needing information should write to missblackandgold2016@gmail.com.

Destiny Jefferson is new Miss TCAC Black and Gold

When Destiny N. Jefferson was a student at Summer Creek in Orange, Texas, her family and fellow students knew that she would become a star someday.  Well, the 21 year old senior majoring in biology at Prairie View A&M University moved into stardom as the new Texas Council of Alpha Chapters (TCAC) Miss Black and Gold sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on February 17 in Dallas, Texas.  Destiny represented the Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter at the pageant along with Jasmine Blackman. The Miss Texas Black and Gold is an official preliminary to the Miss Black and Gold Southwest Region. Destiny was named First Runner-up in the pageant, however, the winner was unable to fulfill her obligation to the title and Destiny moved up to the position. She will represent the TCAC in the Southwest Region Pageant in April.

Destiny, born and partly raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, is the intelligent and ambitious daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Jefferson.

Her ambition is to become a Medical Doctor/Pediatrician and to change the availability of healthcare, and to promote the physical and mental health of the black community. She is guided by the philosophy of “It Doesn’t Hurt to be nice and It Doesn’t Cost to Smile.” Some of her favorites are Blake Shelton, Jennifer Hudson, western movies and cartoons; seafood, riding horses, fishing and being outdoors. 

Her platform is “Mindful Leaders, Mental Health.”  She is most proud of her community involvement in working with Best Buddies which assists disabled children and The Red Door which provides relief and relocation of battered women and children, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Nursing Home Visits, Children’s Rehab Center and tutoring High School students at Church.

Part of her giving back is to speak to high school students on The Power of Education and the great need to pursue higher education. She also plan on helping to inspire the young scholars to be their best self and to aspire to great things despite what others may think. When asked to name two Persons she would invite to her fantasy dinner, she enthusiastically responded - Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.

Upon winning the title Destiny was so elated and stated that her goal is to be the best Miss Black and Gold that she can be.