A Juneteenth celebration isn't complete without a Miss Juneteenth pageant.
Black communities in Galveston and across the country celebrate Juneteenth holiday through a variety of traditions — one of which is the Miss Juneteenth and Little Miss Juneteenth pageants. The original pageant is the one in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. But, over the years, Fort Worth’s Miss Juneteenth pageant has become even more significant: It’s a chance for Black girls in Texas to promote the historic holiday and gain funding for college while commemorating the pain and joy of the life-changing day. Similar pageants have popped up in Texas and several other states over the years, and 2020 marked the first National Miss Juneteenth Pageant held in Tennessee. Delaware’s Miss Juneteenth, Saniya Gay, claimed the national title.
The girl who is qualified to be crowned Miss Juneteenth will accept her crown after participating in a four-day long pageant that included categories for essay writing, interview questions, talent, and evening gown. Miss Juneteenth will receive prizes including A $1,000 scholarship to the junior college, college, or training institute of her choice. But it’s also so much more than that.
The special pageant that celebrates Juneteenth was even the subject of the 2020 film “Miss Juneteenth,” by Channing Godfrey Peoples about a single mother (played by Nicole Beharie), who wants her 15-year-old daughter (Alexis Chikaeze) to win the Fort Worth pageant. Former Miss Juneteenth Triniti Franklin made an appearance in the film.
