New Miss LU crowned
Landon Payne
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
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The other young women who competed were Denyse Scott, Britney Ellis, Irene Howard, Davia Holland, Candace Antwine, Tempest West, and Harnecia Kirk. The show opened with a compelling opening number performed by the eight contestants in little black dresses.
Following the opening number was the on-stage question phase of the pageant, and the introduction of the judges. The panel of judges included two former Miss Black Langston University winners, Nedra Allen and Tanisha Taylor.
The next phase of the competition was the physical fitness portion. The ladies showed off their bodies, poise and confidence in one and two-piece swimsuits.
The show proceeded with the talent portion. Scott sung "Reflections" from the Disney blockbuster "Mulan." Ellis wowed the crowed with a recitation of the poem "Ego Trippin,'" written by Nikki Giovanni. Following Ellis, Howard paid homage to the women of soul music with a ballet/jazz dance. Holland kept the audience in stitches with a series of comical monologues taken from the movie "Chicago." Antwine performed a high-energy dance to the song "Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe. Jackson captivated the audience with a song called "Saved the Best for Last," made famous by Vanessa Williams. West inspired the young women in the audience with an original monologue called "Invest in Your Own Wealth." Kirk brought the talent portion to a close with a dance to songs from late soul legend James Brown.
Pageant coordinator, Deshnick Lewis, and Dr. JoAnn Haysbert, president of Langston University, paid tribute to Clara Luper, founder of the Miss Black Oklahoma and Miss Black Langston University pageants. The sagacious leader, who is often called the mother of the Oklahoma civil rights movement, was awarded a Legacy of Leadership and Service Award. Lewis also announced that the future winners of the Miss Black LU pageant would be awarded the Clara Luper Scholarship. Luper's children then showered their mother with moving words and addressed the audience. The pageant then continued with the evening wear portion of the event, in which the contestants showed off their beautiful evening gowns ranging in colors from apple red to emerald green.
Following the evening wear competition, the reigning Miss Black LU, Amber Howard, took her final walk and said goodbye to the Elite Connection. The contestants also gave the audience and judges one last glimpse into their personalities as they took their positions for the awards as Taylor Byrne, Miss Langston University, delivered a rousing rendition of Christina Aguilera's "The Voice Within."
In addition to winning the crown, Jackson won the best talent and best interview awards.
As Miss Black Langston, she will receive the Clara Luper Scholarship for the 2008-2009 school year, an opportunity to compete in the Miss Black Oklahoma Scholarship Pageant in June, and a chance to implement her platform. Jackson will also be recognized as a member of LU's "Elite Connection," which includes Mr. and Miss. Langston University.
West picked up awards for Miss Congeniality and ad sales. The People's Choice Award went to Howard, and the Director's Choice Award was given to Ellis.
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Bertha Goggin
posted 3/03/08 @ 9:24 AM CST
Congratulations Loria! I've known your parents for many years, and my daughter was in school at Cushing with your youngest brother! How proud I am for you! You sing like an angel, so I'm not at all surprised you won the talent portion. (Continued…)
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