Women Of Color Break Free & Express Themselves
Wayne, NJ, Dec 1st, 2009 - 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 hosting the 22nd Annual MBNJ Pageant on Saturday, December 19TH, 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 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. 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. About Miss Black New Jersey USA Pageant Miss Black New Jersey is an affiliate of the Miss Black USA Pageant and Scholarship Foundation, Inc. A non-profit corporation, recognized under the 501(c)3 Code of Internal Revenue Service. MBNJ is a scholarship pageant that promotes excellence in academics, community service, health and beauty. It is the mission of the MBNJ Pageant to develop the whole woman – mind, body, and spirit. -30-
The judge’s panel includes Malikha Mallette, Actress & Radio Personality on Power 105; Antonique Smith, Star of Notorious and the Broadway musical Rent; Danielle Staub, star of Real Housewives of New Jersey; 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.
Amoeji Consulting
