|
Episode #2117
Miss Black North Carolina USA
Voiceover: Funding for this program is made possible in part by UNC-TV members.
Lewis: Good evening everyone and welcome to Black Issues Forum. I am Mitchell Lewis.
Ricks: Wow. I am feeling tons of things. I feel excited. I really do feel blessed, though. That's the one word I could use throughout this whole competition; blessed because not every girl has the opportunity to want to even try to become Miss Black North Carolina USA so this right here is just really a blessing.
Lewis: Eleven beautiful and very talented young ladies from various parts of the state competed to be in the 2006 Miss Black North Carolina USA Pageant. We'll meet the winner of this year's competition and hear how she plans to contend in the National Miss Black USA Pageant, next on Black Issues Forum.
Voiceover: Quality public television is made possible through the financial contributions of viewers like you who invite you to join them in supporting UNC-TV.
Lewis: Hello, everyone and welcome to Black Issues Forum. I'm Mitchell Lewis. The second annual Miss Black North Carolina USA Scholarship Pageant was held on Sunday March 26th at the Clayton Center Auditorium in Clayton, North Carolina. The pageant, produced and organized by Noire Productions Incorporated, attracted several young African American ladies ages 18 to 27 from around the state to compete in this prestigious event. The talented contestants in this year's competition were quite intelligent with many preparing for their future careers at some of North Carolina's state and private colleges and universities.
Before introducing our three guests affiliated with the Miss Black North Carolina USA Scholarship Pageant, we would like to share some scenes from the Friday March 24th preliminary pageant competition edited by producer Thomas Todd to give us a sense of how these ladies prepared for the competition.
[PAGEANT FOOTAGE]
[MUSIC/BACKGROUND CONVERSATION]
Vann: 4:00 or 4:30.
F: 4:30?
Vann: Yes. But you are going to be down here, all right?
F: Also down here. Okay.
Vann: I need one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Two is one, two, three, four. Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven. Once they get in place-don't worry about ___. When Brandy says, "Thank you for-" Brandy, you got to make sure, though, that as soon as Ashley gets in place, say something like, "Don't they look lovely?"
F: Okay.
Vann: So once she says-
F: "Don't they look lovely?"
Vann: 1,001. Don't they look lovely? 1,001, 1,002. Drop. Okay. Preliminaries will start at 8:00. You need to be in the board room with your outfits. You should already have on your opening number outfit when you come downstairs and your sash. I'll let you know. Have your talent outfit with you. Have your aerobic wear outfit. That room is tight so we got to do what we got to do. Okay? 7:30. What time?
F: 7:30.
Vann: Okay, what happens if you haven't checked in with Kim at 7:30?
F: We will not be able to perform.
Vann: You will not perform at 8:00. So I would suggest 7:20, 7:25 being in this room over here, okay? Seriously, no joke. If you are not in that room at 7:30 you won't perform at 8:00.
Lewis: And you have been watching the preliminaries of the Miss Black North Carolina USA Pageant as well as the punctuality issues.
Now joining us this evening or today is Anthony O. Vann who is the Founder and President of Noire Productions incorporated. He produces and organizes the Miss Black North Carolina USA Pageant. Miss Brandy Morris, the 2005 Miss Black North Carolina who carries the crown and represented the state very well last year. And Miss Carlita Ricks, the newly crowned 2006 Miss Black North Carolina USA and to all of you, welcome.
All: Thank you.
Lewis: And, Carlita, I guess I'll start off with you. First of all, congratulations on your title.
Ricks: Thank you. Thank you so much.
Lewis: Give our audience a little bit of background about yourself and some of the activities you're involved in.
Ricks: Well, I am a graduating senior. I attend Elizabeth City State University where I am actually the reigning Miss Elizabeth City State University. I am a political science major. At my university I am a member of numerous organizations. I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Student Government Association, Student Activities Committee, Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society. I was also a member of the varsity cheerleading squad up until last year. And also the captain of our dance line with our marching Vikings [ph] in the band.
Lewis: And, Brandy, you were the first Miss Black North Carolina USA. Tell us a little bit about yourself and the platform that you created.
Morris: I attend East Carolina University and this is my sophomore year. I am Vice-President of the __ Modeling Troop there at ECU and I am part of the Hall [ph] Government with White Hall dorm. My platform was my academic plans which has showcased the importance of education and I did that through the Teen Essence Program of Noire Productions just showing them how to map out their career plans for college and later life.
Lewis: Anthony, we'll get you in here now. Why was it so important or necessary especially with so many pageants here in North Carolina to create the Miss Black North Carolina USA Pageant?
Vann: Mitch, yes, there are quite a few pageants here in North Carolina but we felt it was very important to establish an organization where African American women could feel comfortable with coming in, competing with each other. We started the Miss Black North Carolina USA System two years ago. And we once again, we just wanted to make sure that there was an organization that these young ladies could come and express their voices and to __ with politics about the community as well as cultural issues.
Lewis: What qualifications must these young ladies have in order to compete?
Vann: Well, we are always looking for outstanding role models. The young ladies should be 18 to 27 years old. At least 25% African American. Single, young ladies with outstanding moral characteristics and in good standing in the community and at their universities or colleges that they attend.
Lewis: Carlita, what was going through your mind as you were being crowned the 2006 Miss Black North Carolina USA?
Ricks: Well, first of all I would just like to say that I am truly grateful to Mr. Anthony for the opportunity to actually be able to compete with the other young ladies and I just would like to say that any of those young ladies could have easily been sitting where I am sitting right now because they were all very qualified. But my mind was-I was surprised. I was surprised and I felt that it was a very humbling experience because it made me realize that it didn't have to be me. But the judges saw favor in me and I was chosen. And I feel that-I think it hit me today that I was actually crowned. But I am excited and I feel blessed. I thank God for this opportunity. I am just very grateful.
Lewis: Brandy, of course, you were the first Miss Black North Carolina USA. How has this experience helped you especially socially or professionally?
Morris: Wow. This experience has truly made a huge impact on my life. I've been able to just speak to the youth and just motivate them to pursue their dreams and to let them know that they sky is the limit. It has helped me to be more mindful of our youth and just focus on them. It has helped me to enhance my public speaking skills. It's just been a great experience.
Lewis: And I will ask both of you this question. Carlita, why did you decide to get in this pageant in the first place?
Ricks: Well, me, personally, I have competed in a number of pageants. I have been competing in pageants since I was about 13 years old and I have about four, including this one, I have about five titles, crowns and titles to my name. And having that type of pageant background, I know how a lot of pageant environments can be so competitive and not a nice type of competitive, kind of catty where the contestants are at each other's throats and it's just cutthroat competition and I had a feeling from the beginning that Mr. Anthony and his sister, Miss Kimberly Vann Hunt, were good people. From the moment that I interacted with them, it just felt right. And this pageant, as soon as I got there, it was a bonding experience that just blew my mind. I just felt that God was present and the atmosphere and it was just a blessing to be around everybody. Everybody was so encouraging, so inspiring, always had words of upliftment. And it was just really, really nice to be in a pageant where it wasn't all about the pageant. It was just, everybody was there because they really wanted to be and they really wanted to be a part of something that stood for the community, African American women being about something. And I have always wanted to run for a state title and I felt that I am attending a HBCU in North Carolina even though I am originally from Chesapeake, Virginia. Even in Virginia the pageant there never enticed me at all. And I just felt that it was my time and I felt welcomed and I competed and I grateful, very grateful that I did.
Lewis: Brandy, I see you nodding your head there. Your thoughts?
Morris: Oh, I saw this as a great opportunity. I know Noire Productions through their plays, their gospel plays that they put on and their Teen Essence Program and I knew they had a Christian background and that is something that is very important in my life. And I knew that it wasn't just a beauty pageant. This is where you can actually showcase your views on politics, help the community in any way you can. It's not just, you're not just wearing a crown. You're there and you are helping your community and it's so heartfelt that I just thought this was a great opportunity and I just gave it the best shot I could.
Lewis: Anthony, it seems like you're getting good accolades for this program although the second annual, but what were some of the challenges you faced in putting this pageant together?
Vann: The challenges I faced, basically centered around finances. With there being so many pageants in North Carolina, a lot of the corporations and stuff like that were not willing to sponsor so I guess I would say our biggest challenge was finances. But regardless of sponsorship or no sponsorship it turned out wonderful. We just had to work harder to make it happen and bring it to fruition. So it turned out great.
Lewis: Now, Carlita, I talked to Brandy about this earlier, what will be your platform?
Ricks: Well, I like to call my platform my vibe. V-i-b-e. My vision to inspire blacks through education. Like Brandy said earlier our youth, even our adults in the African American community are miseducated or the lack thereof, I guess you would say. It's just-it bothers my heart sometimes to see our youth feel that they don't have the same opportunity as others do in today's society to succeed and that's not true. It's not. And I think that we are a prime example that especially young African American women, we too, can be successful. We, too, can be prominent and influential in our communities, in our universities. You know, and it just saddens me that sometimes people feel like they don't stand a chance. And this inspired me, my platform was inspired by my inspiration to help others. And I just feel that this upcoming year is my chance to have my voice be heard and my vision reach the masses.
Lewis: This question is for the two of you. Of course, competing in pageants you have those who say that pageants are basically designed to exploit women. And, Brandy, I will ask you, do you see that as so?
Morris: I would say my views on exploiting women, some pageants, yes, but I think what you should do is do your research on the organization that sponsors the pageant. This organization, we do not exploit women in a bad way. You're known as, or you're seen as intelligent and talented and beautiful black women.
Lewis: Carlita?
Ricks: I agree with Brandy. This pageant is strictly based on what other capabilities outside of prancing around on a stage in a gown and beautiful clothing, what else can you do? What do you have to say? It's not just about a pretty face or the wearing of a crown, or the wearing of a sash. Mr. Anthony made it his personal goal to showcase multifaceted black women in a way that I haven't seen in any other pageant. And I think that is another reason why I wanted to participate. Because when I saw Brandy, I said, "Well, she's not quite what I would have expected but she's so lovable. Like she's so personable and she is a good person." And all of the contestants, they felt the same way about the pageant and everybody was there for the right reasons. You know, everybody was there to have their voice heard. Not just because they wanted a crown. They had a purpose and I feel like Miss Brandy, said, "Before you should judge, you know, first of all God is the only one who can judge us and before you judge you should actually do a little research and find out what is actually backing the pageant. Whoa re the sponsors? Who are the production people? And who started it off? How was it based? You can't just judge and say that, "Oh, they exploit women," without even knowing the background history of the pageant and knowing what it stands for.
Lewis: Anthony, get you back in here once again. The Miss Black North Carolina USA Pageant. You have the designation of USA. What does that mean in the scheme of pageants, if you will?
Vann: The USA basically is you have different national pageants. The Miss Black North Carolina USA is the official state preliminary for the Miss Black USA that will take place in October in Washington DC so we are just a branch of the actual national competition.
Lewis: And, Brandy, what was it like competing in the national competition?
Morris: Wow. It was a great experience. It was challenging. I was the youngest. I was 19 years old and these women had careers, 25, 26. Anchor women and teachers. It was a great experience because I learned from them and they just embraced me. I was the young and the baby of the group but it was great.
Lewis: What do you think you learned from the event overall?
Morris: Miss Black USA?
Lewis: Yes.
Morris: I learned maturity, how to-oh, I really learned how to apply your own makeup. These women had it down pat, the stage makeup. And me, being the youngest I would go and get my makeup done for me so I was actually was challenged to do my own makeup for me. And I did it. So I was happy with that.
Lewis: Well, Anthony, there is also scholarship involved in the pageant. Talk about that.
Vann: The scholarship, the main purpose for the Miss Black USA organization is to provide African American women with scholarships as well as develop these young ladies, develop their talents and their speaking abilities, that type of thing. Our scholarships, Miss Morris, she won a $1,500 scholarship and her trip paid to nationals. When she won, Miss Ricks will win the very same thing as well as, you know, appearances across the state and just having a voice. We hope to get more sponsors for the event so the scholarship amounts can keep growing.
Lewis: Now talking about finances and of course it takes a lot to compete in a pageant. Carlita, how is that financial realm, how did that affect you?
Ricks: Well, I think it is still affecting me. But me being the queen of my university, my university was so helpful with everything that I needed. From registration fee to down to evening gown, my university, they were just so willing to give me and make sure that I represented my university well and I think that it show that it paid off. I'm just so grateful to Elizabeth City State University for providing the means for me to participate. And also my parents. My parents I know that they are like, "This girl __." Every time I come to them, "Mommy, I want to do this. I want to do this." They are like, "Okay," it's so taxing for them sometimes but I just thank God that I am always able to make them proud in whatever that I do. I thank God for loving and supportive parents that they have always supported everything that I do.
Lewis: Brandy, what type of support factor did you have?
Morris: I had sponsor. I went out, in Raleigh North Carolina. I went to salons, mechanical shops. Any business that I saw. I went there and I said, "Hey, I am running for Miss Black North Carolina 2005. This is what I plan to do with this title and I need financial assistance." And they were willing to help me assist that-or assist me in that. And of course, my parents. They were there to help pick up the rest. So I thank God for them.
Lewis: Anthony, you touched on it a little bit earlier but how do you see this pageant evolving? What are some of the things you would like to see come to fruition with this pageant?
Vann: I see wonderful things happening with this particular organization. The first year was last year of course in 2005 and we had six contestants. This year that almost doubled. We had 11 contestants. And we are already receiving applications for 2007 so I can only see this thing just getting bigger and bigger and bigger. And with the 11 contestants we had this year, they were so impressed with the organization. Word of mouth is going to be our best advertisement and this show right here will help, thank you very much, Mitch for having us on. But I see just wonderful things happening with the organization.
Lewis: So, Brandy, since you've been a part of the nationals and it's coming up in October, any type of words of wisdom for Carlita here?
Morris: Plan, practice and prepare and when you get there and you see those women, they may be older but do not be intimidated. Know what you can do and focus on you and you'll do fine. You're a great person and you will do fine. You're talented and you speak so well and you just, I just believe that you will do very well.
Lewis: We're kind of winding down. My final question to both of you, what advice would you have for a young lady who would like to participate in this type of pageant? And I will start with you, Brandy.
Morris: Okay. If you are a young lady trying to compete in this pageant, I would contact Noire Productions and talk with Anthony and ask them questions that you have about the organization and get your research in. Ask them what are they looking for? After that I would get a pageant coach or if you have had pageant experience then take that along with you and know that the sky is the limit. That you can do all things through Christ. And go forth and give it your all. No slacking. Give it your all.
Lewis: Carlita?
Ricks: I think I would pretty much just tell the young ladies out there who do want to participate to do things, make sure they contact Mr. Anthony and find out what they need to do to be properly prepared. Outside of that I think my words would be just more encouraging, to let the young ladies know that you should never feel __. You should never let anyone make you feel that you are not good enough. People can say what they want. You know, they talked about Jesus so I feel like if they are going to talk about you. You can't stop that. People are going to be people. As long as a day is long. But I just want to say that you should always be encouraged and keep your faith. As long as you believe in yourself then everything else will follow and you cannot expect people to believe in you to be the great person that you know you are if you don't believe in yourself first and foremost. And I just feel that everybody should have and practice confidence, self-confidence, self-worth and be aware that you are blessed. And you can do just as much and just as much as you want to do if you put your mind to it and just believe in yourself. Keep your faith.
Lewis: Anthony, as far as other ladies who may want to get involved in the Miss Black North Carolina USA Pageant, how do they go about doing it?
Vann: They can visit us online at www.noireproductions.com or they can simply pick up the phone and give us a phone call. It's 919-261-9768.
Lewis: And I think that will do it. To the three of you, thank you so very much for being here and continued success to all of you. Thank you. Now, if you would like more information about this program, what you need to do is visit us online at unctv.org/bif or call us with your comments at 919-549-7167. Be sure to join us next time for more on the people and issues that matter. For Black Issues Forum, I am Mitchell Lewis.
|
