America's Black Beauty Queens Switched Up Their Cultural Crowns For 'ESSENCE'
Nobody knows how to make history like a Black woman, and this year's national pageant queen winners are no exception.
For the first time ever, Miss America, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA are all black women and these three ladies just linked up for ESSENCE's most recent digital cover to give us our entire lives. In a shoot shedding light on the beauty of our cultural crowns, Nia Franklin, Chelsie Kryst, and Kaleigh Garris rocked durags, church hats, and head scarves with the kind of style and grace that Biggie rapped about.
If you haven't taken the time to read up on these history-making queens yet, it's time to get familiar. Here's everything you need to know:
Miss America: Nia Franklin
Age: 26
What You Need To Know: Nia was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and composed her first song at only six years old, and has written over 100 songs since. Nia is now a professionally trained opera singer with a degree in Music Composition from East Carolina University and has dreams of one day winning a Grammy. Last year, Nia became the first woman to ever win the pageant without having to compete in the swimsuit competition.
"I think it was important to showcase that as a young woman, as an African-American woman, you can sing opera. [I have found that there is a] stereotype that black people don't sing opera. I wanted to break down those stereotypes on national television." - The Hollywood Reporter
Miss USA: Cheslie Kryst
Age: 28
What You Need To Know: Also a native of the Carolinas, Cheslie was born in Charlotte and later graduated high school in Fort Mill, South Carolina. One of five children, she earned an undergrad degree in marketing and later enrolled in the Wake Forest School of Law for her Juris Doctor and Masters in business administration. While she's not helping other women adjust their crowns, this queen spends her time challenging the justice system on behalf of prison inmates pro bono. Cheslie has decided to take a one-year leave of absence from her law career to be the best damn Miss USA that this country has ever seen.
"I remember I went to an appearance when I was Miss North Carolina and someone came up to me and said it must be so hard to show up and be pretty. And I thought to myself, you don't understand, like, the other things that I do. I'm a full time attorney, I volunteer in my community, and I speak at events. Like, that's not my job to show up and be pretty but my job is to show up and make an impact on my community. And that really is the norm for women you see nowadays." - WFAE
Miss Teen USA: Kaliegh Garris
Age: 19
What You Need To Know: Before claiming her Miss USA Crown, Kaliegh was enrolled in both high school and an educational school for the arts with a concentration in theatre and also has an interest in competitive dance. The biracial queen says that although she spent most of her life trying to straighten her kinks, she's now learned to embrace her crown and all its beauty. Earlier this year, Kaliegh became the first contestant in 20 years to win the title while sporting naturally curly hair.
"I had to stop worrying about where I fit in and have enough strong will within myself to be comfortable with who I am and embrace my natural hair. And that's one of the reasons why I'll always compete with my natural hair." - ELLE
To see ESSENCE's full digital cover spread, click here!
Featured image by Donald Kravitz/Getty Images
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage
