The BluePrint. (None) 2013-????, February 28, 2014, Image 4
Beyond the Gowns:
A Look into Black Collegiate Pageantry
By: Alaja Phillips C2015
Behind the glamour and spotlights,
there is much more to pageants than
most of us know. With some pageants
finished, and the even bigger ones
quickly approaching, we thought it
might be useful to give some insight
as to what being a part of a pageant
entails by allowing the participants
of recent pageants to share their
experiences.
All Historically Black Colleges
and Universities have many events
in common but perhaps the most
socially exciting are pageants.
Collegiate pageants are a chance for
students to break out of their shell
and showcase their talents in front of
peers. The types of pageants range
from Greek, scholarship, university, and
class pageants—all serving different
purposes.
Here at Spelman College, a
registered student organization can
choose to host a pageant in which
both male and female students may
attempt to represent and carry out
the initiatives of that organization.
The biggest pageants in the AUC are
The Mr. and Miss AUC Pageant, Miss
Spelman, and Miss Maroon and White.
To be a contestant in these pageants, or
to even win, is a great opportunity that
comes with a long process.
Pageants are filled with defining
moments that can build relationships
and open doors for many students.
With a range of pageants to choose
from, it is important to understand
the different goals of each pageant.
Each pageant inadvertently attracts a
particular audience and says something
unique about its contestants. The first
semester of every year is filled with
RSO and class pageants.
The most recent was the 2014
scholarship Miss Omega Psi Phi
pageant, in which Zhane Dadson
C’2015 took first place. Dadson entered
the competition because she loves
the fraternity and was in need of a
scholarship. Her exquisite performance
was rewarded with a book scholarship
and endless love from the fraternity.
She now works closely with the men
of the Psi chapter to host community
events.
“This competition has brought me
closer to the rest of the contestants,”
Dadson said. “Everyone was really
supportive of the outcome and I am so
appreciative of the relationships that I
have fostered because of the pageant.
This really allowed me to see who my
true friends and supporters are.”
It is important to correctly choose
4 Feb/March 2014 SpelmanPaper@gmail.com
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