Black college queens - African American beauty contestants - Illustration

Ebony, April, 1993

BEAUTIFUL, brainy and benevolent, the 95 women who comprise this year's list of Black College Queens seem to have it all.

With wit and wisdom, these women have struck a delicate balance between maintaining high academic standards as well as taking time to help others who are in need.

The stellar group of collegians includes Alpha Kappa Mu honor society scholars, Who's Who In American Colleges and Universities designees and student government association leaders. These women also find the time to serve as volunteers with the NAACP, United Negro College Fund and Big Brothers-Big Sisters organizations.

With parity in mind, EBONY decided to list the queens beginning at the middle of the alphabet, starting with Miss Norfolk State University and ending with Miss Morris College.

Year after year, the Black College Queens list grows longer as more and more Black women are selected by their fellow students to reign over historically Black colleges and universities as well as predominantly White institutions. These young women share a deep pride in their schools and an abundant respect for their positions of leadership.

Not only is this elite group, carrying a full load of classes, they are also serving others through campus outreach ministries and helping their schoolmates as peer tutors.

Taken together, these women from Osceola, Ark., to Queens, N.Y., embody the characteristics of the modern Black woman who is poised to meet and exceed the challenges of the 21st century.

Pretty, posied and prepared these young Black women are ready for the 21st century

Geraldine A. Ritter, Miss Norfolk State University, is from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. She plans a broadcasting career.

Machelle E. Cato, a communications major from Charlotte, N.C., is Miss North Carolina A & T State University.

Kia D. Hardy is Miss North Carolina Central University. From Greenville, N.C., she aspires to a career in international law.

Lena C. Andrews, an aspiring engineer, is Miss Oakwood College. The management information systems major is from Detroit.

Angela L. Knox of Fairburn, Ga., is Miss Paine College. The senior history major is a member of Alpha Kappa Mu honor society.

Sharon A. Drayton, who aspires to become an elementary school principal, is Miss Paul Quinn College. She is from Tampa, Fla.

Jajuan C. Williams of North Little Rock, Ark., is Miss Philander Smith College. The education major is a UNCF volunteer.

Cynthia Y. Lester of Tuskegee Institute, Ala., is Miss Prairie View A & M University. she hopes to be a college mathematics professor.

Vanessa Chandler, Miss Rust College, hopes to become a congresswoman. She is from Aberdeen, Miss.

Cykeitha Burnette, Miss St. Augustine's College, is from Washington, D.C. The senior pre-med major wants to be a physician.

Serena McCoy is Miss Savannah State College. From St. Simons Island, Ga., she wants to be a newspaper editor.

Lisa E. Moxey is Miss Selma University. From Nassau, Bahamas, the sophomore biology major plans to be a medical technologist.

Bethesda Thornton of Cleveland is Miss Shaw University. The computer science major plays on the volleyball team.

Vicki C. Hemphill, a senior mathematics education major, is Miss South Carolina State University. She is an honor student.

Shrylena L. Bogard is Miss Southern Illinois University. From Memphis, Tenn., she wants to be an obstetrician/gynecologist.

Rose s. Gordon of Lutcher, La., is Miss Southern University-Baton Rouge. The senior rehabilitation counseling major enjoys dance.

Tammy M. Stewart is Miss Southern University-New Orleans. The hometown queen is a senior political science major.

Felecia E. Toussaint reigns as Miss Southern University-Shreveport. The Shreveport native wants to become a physical therapist.

Kisha Parker, a junior economics major from Kinston, N.C., is Miss Spelman College. She is involved with a tutorial program.

Sonja Campbell, a senior business major from Memphis, Tenn., is Miss Stillman College. She seeks a career in advertising.

Ericka M. Boone of Virginia Beach, Va., is queen of Talladega College. The pre-med major wants to become a pediatrician.

Dale M. Williams of Memphis, Tenn., is Miss Tennessee State University. She wants to be a magazine editor and author.

Michelle T. Langham is Miss Texas Southern University. The senior journalism major aspires to become a communications lawyer.

Deborah D. Parker is Miss Tougaloo College. From Edwards, Miss., the senior biology major plans a career in health care.

Beth Johnson of Englewood, N.J., reigns as Miss Tufts University. She is a member of a campus minority outreach program.

Lesley Barbre is queen of Tuskegee University. From North Chicago, Ill., the senior education major is a local radio personality.

Christine E. Owens, Miss University of Delaware, aspires to be an obstetrician/gynecologist. She is from Wilmington, Del.

Rhonda D. Terry of Montclair, N.J., is Miss University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. She is a hotel/restaurant management major.

Tywanda D. Ellison, Miss University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, seeks a career in public health. She is from Raeforfd, N.C.