Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss America, appeared together on the digital cover of Essence magazine to commemorate the three Black beauty queens and promote the importance of equity and inclusion, reports Yahoo! Lifestyle.

The cover was posted on the magazine’s Instagram account with the title, “This is America.”

In 2019, Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA were all Black women for the first time in history. 

The magazine’s feature story centers on Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris and Miss America Nia Franklin, who talk about their respective pageant wins and titles.

“My title and my crown mean a chance to be inclusive. It gives me the opportunity to represent a group that has not always been represented in this country,” Franklin said.

Garris got personal in her remarks.

“Holding this title has made a difference in my life and the life of those around me, not only because I am a woman of color but also because I am biracial,” she said.

The magazine’s spread has colorful, glamorous photos of the three women in jewels, Calvin Klein fits and leather prints. They also wore headpieces that were reminiscent of Ancient Egyptian royalty.

Whereas Kryst talked about the progress their victories demonstrated. 

“Pageants weren’t always welcoming to women of color. It took decades of persistence and courageous women showing the world a new kind of beauty,” Kryst said.

As Kryst said, the history of Black pageant winners has been contentious.

Vanessa Williams was the first Black woman to win the Miss America pageant in 1984, but she later received racist hate mail and gave up her crown due to a nude photo controversy, reports The New York Times.


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