With her unique attire and stage presence, using a tango-styled twirl ensemble as her talent, senior mathematics major Lakesha Clark was crowned as the 42nd Miss Prairie View A&M University on Wednesday.
Competing against nine other contestants, the 21-year-old Dallas native stunned the crowd in the Opal Johnson-Smith auditorium. She plans to use her platform “Growing in 3D at PV” to implement programs focused on mental, spiritual, and physical development to help cultivate girls into women and boys into men.
Clark said, “Before the pageant, I knew that I would have to invest much time, energy, and preparation to get the results that I was ultimately looking for. That meant giving up a chance to dance with the Houston Dynamo Girls.”
2010-2011 Miss PVAMU Tiffany Ward said, “It was a bittersweet moment. I was so excited to move to the next stage in my life but it also finally hit me that my reign was coming to an end.”
Senior chemical engineering major Camille Smith was the first runner-up, earning the title of first attendant to Miss Prairie View. She can now add her success in this year’s pageant to her list of achievements, including interning with NASA.
Junior human performance major Triston Varnado was the second runner-up, earning the title of second attendant to Miss Prairie View. A member of the PVAMU Black Foxes, the Los Angeles native used her skills to assist her in performing a novelty dance to capture the judges’ attention.
Varnado said, “I felt my best performance was my talent. I had so much fun on stage and I’m so happy for Miss Clark. She is my Fox sister, so any victory for her is one for me as well.”
The pageant went in its traditional order, with an exciting introduction of all candidates followed by the swimsuit competition, special recognition, talent portion, and evening gown competition.
As always, the defining moment of the pageant was the impromptu interview competition in which contestants offer intellectual responses to questions provided by judges.
This year’s panel of judges featured several notable alumni, including two former Miss Prairie Views, 1974 winner Mary Jacki Washington and 2006 winner Lindsey J. Slay.
Other judges included former news editor at The Panther LaShonda R. Williams, director of public affairs for Valero’s Energy Regional Refining Operations Fred Newhouse, and Asad Abdul-Salaam, an employee at Cameron International Corporation.
Ward said, “The position of Miss PVAMU has greatly benefited me in maturing and growing. I have learned so many valuable lessons for the experiences that have been afforded to me through the position and I am eternally grateful for it.”