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Printer-Friendly ModeSVSU student crowned Miss Black Michigan
August 24, 2007 —
The honor of being named Miss Black Michigan has been bestowed upon a member of the SVSU student body.
Junior Kyona Cook beat out 340 applicants to become Miss Black Michigan, and in June will compete against 49 other representatives to compete for the title of Miss Black USA.
The Miss Black USA pageant was first created in 1986 and until two years ago was held in the United States. This year, however, the contestants will be traveling to Gambia to compete. The theme of the pageant - "A journey back to your roots" - was a factor in the decision to hold the pageant in Africa as opposed to the United States.
Cook was not always interested in competing in pageants. Her initial interest was in modeling, which later led to her discovery of the Miss Black USA pageant.
"I was doing some research online when I discovered the pageant," Cook recalled.
"It seemed like a lot of fun and the fact that it was held in Gambia really caught my attention."
Miss Black USA is structured much like other major pageants, with a talent competition that is worth 15 percent of each contestant's score. Cook has chosen Christian dance as her means of expression.
"It's a lot like ballet," she said, "only it's set to Gospel music."
Contestants must also choose a platform, something they strongly believe in and support. M.A.T.C.H, which stands for Mentoring Allows Teamwork to Create Hope, is a government-funded Leona group which works to provide mentorship to young people, and is the platform from which Cook hopes to become the positive role model she aspires to be.
Cook is not unfamiliar with working with groups with similar goals. A member of Strong Women of Tomorrow and Women of Elegance, two SVSU student groups, her focus has always been on promoting positive images for young women to look up to.
"It's important to be a good role model," she says. "All young girls see are poor images in the media, and that is something we are trying to change."
Cook has only 10 months to prepare for her trip to Gambia, and those 10 months will be filled with engagements required of Miss Black Michigan. The crowning of Miss Black USA will officially take place on June 14, 2008 in Gambia. Throughout all of this, Cook has remained humble about her success and the opportunity that lies before her.
"I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason," she says. "Win or lose, I try to remain humble and am just extremely honored to be a part of it all."
