In 100 years of pageants in the United States, only a handful of African American women from New Jersey have ever worn a national pageant crown. The Miss Black New Jersey USA Pageant (MBNJ) aims to change that number by with the 22nd Annual MBNJ Pageant on Saturday, December 19, 2009 from 7pm-10pm at the Alexander Kasser Theater on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ. “This isn’t about excluding anyone else, it is about showing a generation of young African American women that they are beautiful, inside and out,” said Ms. Ijeoma Obilo, NJ State Director of MBNJ.
The event will be hosted by Antonique Smith, Star of Notorious and the Broadway musical Rent. The judge’s panel includes Malikha Mallette, Actress & Radio Personality on Power 105; Lisa Durden, Producer of the acclaimed Sundance documentary “Brick City”; Shaun Williams, former NY Giant, and Chigozilu Enigwe, fashion designer featured on the Tyra Banks show.
The pageant contestants will compete in the following categories: Preliminary Interviews, Talent, Fitness, Evening Wear, and a Q&A segment. The Fitness segment has replaced the traditional swimsuit section. A Fitness section that promotes healthy living vastly outweighs any benefits of a swimsuit section that merely objectifies women.
“This is about more than who looks good in a swimsuit. Diabetes, Anorexia, Bulimia are all results of the unhealthy living styles that are projected on us by society. Girls need a new role model,” said Ms. Obilo.
The winner of Miss Black New Jersey 2010 will receive $2,500 towards their college tuition and an all expenses paid trip to the national pageant; where they will have a chance to win $20,000. We will also award a Miss Congeniality, Miss Fitness, and Best Smile.
MBNJ also has a Talented Teen competition. All the teen contestants will be judged on preliminary weekend, which takes place on Sunday, December 13TH, 2009. The winner of Miss Talented Teen 2010 will be announced live at the pageant on December 19th. The judges for the teen pageant include: Maya Williams, MBNJ 09’; Danielle Driver, MBNJ 08’ and Teresa Sterlacci, Miss New Jersey 09’. Recently crown Miss New Jersey 10’ & former MBNJ 06’, Chenoa Greene, will serve as a guest speaker.
