On August 9th 2010 the Miss Black USA (MBUSA) Pageant was held at The Lincoln Theatre in Washington DC. The pageant began with a celebrity hosted “Red Dress” VIP reception to honor the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. There was a Q&A session, dance routine performance, evening gown parade and individual performances by contestants. Out of 28 beautiful contestants, Nigerian-American, Osas Ighodaro emerged as Miss Black USA 2010.
She was crowned by Miss Black USA 2009, Shayna Rudd. Her mother, Patricia Ighodaro and fashion model Stacey McKenzie was on hand to congratulate her. She immediately gave praise of thanksgiving to God during her acceptance of the crown at the historical Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC. This is the first time in history that two queens from Connecticut won the title of Miss Black USA®. Ms. Ighodaro is a professionally trained actress, and she performed her winning talent, “What If I Am a Black Woman” in four dialects. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from Pennsylvania State University. She is also a Master of Fine Arts degree candidate for Pace University.
“It’s an honor to be crowned where President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama resides. It would be my dream to meet the First Lady,” stated Ms. Ighodaro during the post pageant press conference at Ben’s Next Door. Ms. Ighodaro will serve as the celebrity advocate for the pageant’s national partnership with the Heart Truth® campaign to increase awareness of heart disease. The Miss Black USA® $20,000 prize package includes: a walk-on role on Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns”, 2-page spread in Heart & Soul magazine, a trip to Africa, and a scholarship to the prestigious New York School for Dramatic Arts.
1st Runner Up: Miss Black Georgia, Kimberly Jones
2nd: Miss Black Texas, Zakiya Larry
3rd: Miss Black North Carolina, RaSheeda A. Waddell
4th: Miss Black Ohio, Ashley Miller
Shawnta Watson Walcott, former Miss Black Missouri 1993 and champion for social justice, accepted the first ever Miss Black USA® Legacy Award.
Miss Talented Teen® Arizona, Raven Green, was crowned Miss Black Talented Teen® USA 2010 at the Gaylord National Resort in Prince George’s County, MD. Miss Black USA Fitness Award went to Dr. Allison Hill.
The MBUSA Princesses, for girls ages 5-10, were also presented at the finals pageant in beautiful white gowns. Guy Lambert, news director, WPGC FM Radio and Senior Producer of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and former Miss Black USA, Deya Smith were co-hosts. Judges included Derrick Rutledge, Nakia Sanford and Nikki Kimbrough.
Some of the host committee members for the reception were Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and Congressman Donald Payne.
Official sponsors included Tyler Perry Studios, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, F&L Construction, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, and Heart & Soul magazine.
If you would like to be a contestant in the 2011 Pageant, visit www.missblackusa.org
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