VU student to represent Tennessee in Miss Black USA Competition
Posted 4/22/2008
Kristen Herring
As Miss Black Tennessee 2008, Herring anticipates the chance to compete for the national title. "I am extremely excited and slightly anxious about taking my platform to the national level," says Herring. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will take with me forever." While preparing for the national pageant, Herring has remained committed to the current state title by building her civic platform, Time to Get on the "M.O.V.E.," an acronym for "Motivation, Organization, Values, Education."
Since her reign, Herring has been named the official spokesperson and mentor for Governor Phil Bredesen's L.I.F.T. Mentorship Initiative, which strives to provide mentors for the 1,500 teens in state foster care. If selected as Miss Black USA, Herring will win a $20,000 scholarship and become pageant spokesperson. Miss Black USA pageant contestants will be judged on their personal fitness, talent, evening gown and questions/answer segment.
Herring is a native of Lumberton, N.C.. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia where she was a member of the Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was crowned Miss Black Tennessee on August 18, 2007 in Nashville.
The Miss Black USA Pageant and Scholarship Foundation, Inc. develops and promotes national leadership among women in the African American community. The organization develops women who are strong, empowered, and educated and who serve as positive role models to other women of color. The Miss Black USA Pageant is a community driven organization and is committed to addressing health and education, two leading social issues in the African American community. Winners of official "Miss Black USA" state pageants will use her civic platform to promote awareness of these issues during her reign.
The Miss Black Tennessee Scholarship Pageant is an auxiliary of The Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant. Founded in 1984 to advance educational and professional opportunities for women of African American descent, it is recognized as one of the premiere pageants of this nation. The Miss Black Tennessee Scholarship Organization is an auxiliary of The Miss Black USA Scholarship Organization. In 2006, the Miss Black Tennessee Scholarship Pageant was welcomed into state prominence after nearly a 10-year hiatus with a successful record of over 300 attendees from across the state. The Miss Black Tennessee Scholarship Pageant is the official preliminary to the national Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant.
Contact: Missy Pankake, (615) 322-NEWS
Missy.pankake@vanderbilt.edu
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