The Crowned Trinity: First Time America’s Major Pageant Winners Are All Black Women
By Johana LMay 6 2019, Updated 3:44 p.m. ET
What seemed like any other Thursday turned into a historical moment as Miss North Carolina, Chelsie Kryst, was crowned Miss USA.
The historical significance?
Miss USA completed the trio of black winners in prominent pageants, and in her natural hair.
The Crowned Trinity
Miss Teen USA, Kaleigh Garris, was crowned this past Sunday, April 28. The Connecticut native also walked the stage wearing her natural curls. But it wasn’t an easy feat given the stringent standards of beauty society places on us. According to refinery29, she said:
-“There were a few naysayers saying, ‘You look better with straight hair,’ or ‘You should put in extensions and straighten your natural hair”
“There were a few naysayers saying, ‘You look better with straight hair,’ or ‘You should put in extensions and straighten your natural hair”
Thankfully she didn’t listen. It also marked the first time in 2 decades that the crown was placed on natural hair.
Nia Franklin representing New York, as she was crowned Miss America 2019 on September 9, 2018. Little did she know that she would be the first in line for this historical mark.
Her quest for the crown wasn’t an easy one either though. Originally from North Carolina, Nia had only been in New York for 1 year. This sparked some outrage as many felt that it wasn’t fair for her to represent NY being that she hadn’t been here so long. She argued that her grit makes her a New Yorker as she obtained her graduate degree soon after moving to NY. The proof is in her work, and who doesn’t love beauty, brains and grit?
We congratulate all 3 beautiful women on their achievements and this historical moment.
