CMU's Black Girls Rock to host pageant highlighting Black women
Black Girls Rock secretary Kennedy Butler presents at Queens of Rhythm: A Tribute to Black Female Music Icons Tuesday, Feb. 20 in Pearce Hall. The event discussed the backgrounds, careers and achievements of 12 Black female music icons. (CM-Life | Ella Miller)
In an effort to highlight the achievements of hardworking, underrepresented students, Central Michigan University's Black Girls Rock (BGR) will host its inaugural beauty pageant this weekend to celebrate the excellence of Black women on campus.
The pageant will take place at 6 p.m.Saturday, April 5, in Anspach 161. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Members of the audience are expected to dress to impress; no casual wear allowed.
Kennedy Butler, president of Black Girls Rock, said that in the past BGR has collaborated with other campus organizations to host an award show. This year, she said they decided to branch out and organize their own event honoring Black women on campus. According to her, BGR seeks to use the pageant as a tool to bridge the gap between diverse communities and foster familiarity among all those involved, regardless of ethnicity.
Butler said pageant contestants are chosen by three members of the CMU faculty and evaluated through the preliminary process and three show rounds. The contestants will compete to win one of five titles that highlight their efforts in a certain field, such as art, innovation and scholarship.
One contestant will also be crowned Miss BGR, "the all-around woman." This title goes to a contestant that excels in multiple categories, such as leadership and compassion, and is versatile in her achievement.
Aligning with BGR’s mission to uplift and empower Black women at CMU, Butler said the pageant serves as a source of confidence and authentic self-expression to all participants.
“Our goal for this event is to ensure that every girl feels seen, represented and special,” she said. “We aim to celebrate and highlight the accomplishments of Black women on campus. Through this event, we want to uplift our community and encourage confidence and professionalism by showcasing our peers on stage, exemplifying the qualities we define as an all-around woman.”
