Essence Magazine honors 3 reigning black beauty queens. Unless you’ve not been in the know, we had three beautiful black sisters crowned in 2019. That’s right, for the first time in history, Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA are all African Americans.
Essence Introduces Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA For 2019
So just who is Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA?
Miss Nia Imani Franklin
After being crowned Miss New York in June of 2018, 26-year-old Miss Nia Imani Franklin of New York was the 92nd winner of the Miss America Pageant on September 18, 2019. Born July 27, 1993, she is the seventh Miss America to capture the title of Miss America, winning a $50,000 scholarship.
Miss Franklin is an American Composer and is also involved in social activism and philanthropy. According to Wikipedia, Franklin is the oldest of 3 siblings. Attending East Carolina College in Greenville, North Carolina, Franklin graduated with a degree in music composition in 2015.
During her freshman year in college, Franklin’s father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. After relapsing twice years later, he required a stem cell transplant. Found to be a match, Ms. Franklin donated her stem cells to her father, causing his remission.
Graduating in 2017 from University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Miss Nia Franklin received her Master of Music degree in 2017.
Miss Cheslie Corrine Kryst
As the winner of Ms. USA in 2019, Ms. Cheslie Kryst will represent the United States in the Miss Universe Pageant. Born April 28, 1991, her mother is African American and her father is Polish American.
Crowned Miss North Carolina in 2018, she becomes the third Miss North Carolina to win the title of Miss USA, following in her mothers footsteps, who was crowned Miss North Carolina when Kryst was a child. She has 4 sisters and a brother.
Outside of pageantry, Ms. Kryst is an attorney and licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina. While at the Darla Moore School of Business, Kryst was on the track and field team. In 2013, she received a degree in marketing and human resource management from Darla.
According to Wikipedia, after her undergraduate degree, Miss Kryst enrolled in Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Graduating with both a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Adminstration.
Currently, Miss Cheslie Corrinne Kryst is a correspondent for Extra.
Miss Kaliegh Garris
At 19 years old, Miss Kaliegh Garris is Miss Teen USA 2019. She is an American model. Born August 21, 2000, her father is African-American and her mother is white. Before her crowing moment, she won Miss Connecticut in 2018, the second Miss Connecticut to win the title of Miss Teen USA.
After her win, Miss Garris received lots of attention for wearing her natural hair during the Miss Teen USA competition.
Before being crowned, Miss Garris was a dual enrolled student in Connecticut at Joseph A. Foran High School and ACES Education Center for the Arts where she studies theatre.
Participating is competitive dance, Kaleigh has been trained in contemporary, jazz, pointe, hip hop and tap. Inspired by her sister with disabilities, she founded her own organization called We Are People 1st, which helps people with disabilities.
Kaliegh Garris now attends Southern Connecticut University studying communications and volunteers at Yale New Haven Hospital. For her future, she inspires to be a trauma nurse.
Watch The Essence Uncovered Video Below
Celebrating this historic first, let’s get to know these reigning black beauties.
Watch the Essence Uncovered video below for a peak into the photoshoot of Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.
For more Entertainment News check us out at drenchedinblack.com. It’s your brand new destination for hot black celebrity news.