Smiles and cheers started off the reign of Miss Prairie View A&M University’s 2008-2009 pageant winner Kara Willis, a 21- year-old junior agriculture economics major. The pageant was held April 16 in the Opal Johnson Smith Auditorium.
“Purple Reign: A Glimpse Into Royalty” was the theme for the pageant. Family and friends of each of the nine contestants came out in support as they cheered their loved ones.
The evening began with a dance performance from the contestants on stage, along with 2007-2008 Miss Prairie View A&M University Jamie Jackson, a senior communications major. After the dance, the contestants stated their names, classifications, and majors. The mistress and master of ceremonies LaPorsha Allen, a sophomore nursing major, and Evan White, senior education major, introduced the judges: Miss PVAMU 72-73 Bernadine English Hicks; 2001 PVAMU graduate Deonta Daniels; Tracey M. Ferguson, editor of JONES Magazine; 2002 PVAMU graduate Michael G. Davis and Erin Stevenson, who is also a PVAMU graduate and Miss PVAMU 2001.
The pageant began with a swimsuit segment. All of the contestants wore one-piece bathing suits. Once the swimsuit portion was finished, Allen and White recognized all the family, friends, and staff by having them stand.
Candace Culmer, contestant number one, junior mass communications major, performed a monologue; followed by Vorice Batts, a junior biology major, who danced to a song from the Broadway production of “The Color Purple.” Jabreel Walker, a junior chemical engineering major recited a poem titled, “I’m Not Giving My Black Back” received lots of admiration from the audience.
Junior business management major and contestant number four, Sheree White, a junior business management major, sang the song “Tomorrow.” After White’s performance, junior health education major Monique Jones performed a monologue, “A Prairie View Woman’s Cry” that led into a dance to “Never Could Have Made It.”
Charli Cooksey, a junior political science major, did movement and dance to a series of songs. Junior mass communications major Brittany Wingate did a monologue that appeared to win over the crowd.
Senior social work major Antoinette Allen did a short monologue of her freshman year on campus; she then went into song, singing “Shout to The Lord.” The final contestant, junior agriculture economics major Kara Willis, did a monologue on three people she felt carried Prairie View spirit, were significant and paved the way for students.
After a 10-minute intermission, the pageant continued with the evening gown portion. The contestants presented themselves on stage wearing their gowns as they were escorted toward the front of the stage. All of them gave a quote and introduced themselves once again.
The impromptu interview followed. Each contestant was asked a question from a sealed envelope.
There was a performance from the Classic Dance Ensemble, who danced to “So High” by John Legend. After this, the sponsors and everyone who helped with the pageant were thanked, followed by Jackson, who took her last walk around the room as her farewell speech was played. Jackson thanked all of those who were dear to her and helped her throughout her reign as Miss Prairie View 2007-2008, including Denise Simmons, co-executive director of the pageant. Jackson’s mother presented a bouquet of roses for Simmons.
Awards were handed out last. Allen won the award for congeniality, Walker won most ads sold, Batts won talent, Willis won best swimsuit, and a tie for best gown was between Culmer and Wingate, Cooksey won best interview and second runner-up. First runner-up went to Batts, and Willis won the title of Miss Prairie View A&M University 2008-2009.
Wingate said, “The best thing about being involved in the pageant is that I got a chance to make great friendships with all of the contestants. They are all wonderful and driven young women.”
A couple of people disagreed with the win, “I think [Walker] should have won. It would’ve been a different look for Miss Prairie View,” said senior health major Brenda Sneed, who also said, “Her attire was appropriate and everything.”
Derrick Williams, a senior architecture major, liked Walker as well, “She kept it real.” Williams said how he was taken by Walker’s poem, “I’m Not Giving My Black Back.” Williams also mentioned that he liked how Walker was herself on stage, and that she didn’t change her personality.
Jackson’s advice for future contestants was, “[Don’t] let anything stop you, especially fear.” Jackson said that the hardest thing about being Miss Prairie View is “balancing all your duties as Miss Prairie View and your responsibilities as a student.”
Willis said that she enjoyed being in the pageant, “This experience was so exhilarating. The contestants were so wonderful; I look forward to a grand new year.”