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Jet, March 8, 1993

Miss Michigan USA Kenya Moore, a 22-year-old student at Wayne State University in Detroit, recently captured the title of Miss USA 1993 during ceremonies in Wichita, Kan.

Ms. Moore was the second Black to win the title in the history of the pageant. The first Black winner was Miss USA 1990 Carole Gist, also from Michigan. The pageant winner will receive $200,000 worth of cash and prizes, including a new car, jewelry and a fur before going to compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City in May.

While her good looks may have helped her cinch the crown, Moore said, "My grandmother instilled the value that inner beauty comes from what the soul says and how you treat other people. Everything comes from within. The beauty is within."

The crowning took place in front of about 4,000 people at the Century II convention center in the city with an estimated television viewing audience of 300 million in 30 countries. It culminated two weeks of competition that included interviews.

The 51 contestants represented each state in the nation and the District of Columbia.