Alexandria Galtney
Staff Writer
It was a night for dreams to come true as students, faculty, parents, and alumni gathered in the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium on March 31 to witness six lovely ladies compete for the title of Miss Jackson State University for the upcoming school year.
This year’s theme for the pageant was “Dreamgirls in Tiger World” inspired by the Broadway musical and film “Dreamgirls.”
Students got to meet the contestants for Miss JSU and also the candidates for the royal court.
The six contestants competing for the title were; Ruqayya Calmes, Destiny Harris, Diamond McCray, Olivia McNeal, Destiney Lawrence, and Kierra Watkins.
The competition began with an introduction from Charence Higgins, the current Miss JSU 2015-2016. Higgins introduced the Mistress and Master of ceremonies Brittany Noble Jones, a co-anchor for WJTV News Channel 12, and Ryan Houston, an anchor for WAPT News Channel 16.
Jones and Houston introduced the parade of contestants and the five panel judges; Vivian Dotson, Othor Cain, Katrina Myricks, Thomas Roots and Melanie Sanders.
All contestants were judged on five individual categories: interview, oratorical ability, talent, on-stage questions and evening wear. Throughout the night, the contestants displayed their grace, talent, overall stage presence, personality, and confidence.
In each phase of the pageant, contestants took a brief intermission and students of the Speech and Theater Department put on miniature skits based on the movie “Dreamgirls.”
During the talent phase of the competition, contestants amazed the crowd with performances of dance, song, and instrumental ability. Some contestants captured the audience, while others left a questionable mark on stage.
As the evening came to a close, each contestant gave their final remarks and Higgins shared her experience as Miss JSU 2015-2016 through photos, gave a tearful farewell walk and hugged her mother before stepping back onto the stage and thanking the students for allowing her to represent the university.
With high anticipation in the room, Jones and Houston announced the three Miss JSU candidates that will continue on to campaign for the title of Miss JSU 2016-2017.
The three contestants who will be campaigning for the crown are Diamond McCray, Olivia McNeal, and Destiney Lawrence.
“What did I get out of this experience? I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone and that takes a lot of me to step out of my comfort zone. I’m not that comfortable talking in front of people, so to be able to speak in front of an audience, I can now speak in front of people,” said McCray, a junior political science major from Magnolia, Miss.
Lawrence, a junior biology pre-medicine major from Fairhope, Ala., appreciates that she was able to be herself.
“What I took from the Miss Jackson State pageant was that it was okay for me to be original and be myself. The pageant gave me so much joy, just knowing that having a genuine heart never goes unnoticed,” said Lawrence.
All of the six contestants did their absolute best, said one student in the audience.
Kendrick Lee, a freshman civil engineering major from Memphis, Tenn. said, “These contestants, they did so well, but I just knew three of them had to come out on top but they need to stay strong and believe in themselves because they all did amazing.”
Which one of these ladies will capture the crown? Make sure you go out and vote April 8 in the Jackson State Student Center located on campus to find out.
William H. Kelly III contributed to this story.
Note: Miss JSU Candidate Olivia McNeal was contacted for a comment but it was not received at press time.
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