My Journey to the Crown

New title, new journey!

2012-09-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

The past year as Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012 has really left a lasting impact on my life. I learned so much about others, pageantry in general, and most of all, myself. Annnnnd I'm ready for more!

As Miss Louisiana International 2013, I am honored to represent the state of Louisiana in the 2013 Miss International Pageant, but the road to a national pageant isn't an easy one, nor is it cheap. I need your support to help me reach my ultimate goals of becoming Miss International 2013.

We are currently looking for sponsorships so that I may truly maximize my reign as Miss Louisiana International 2013. I am seeking donations in any form, whether the sponsorship is monetary or in the form of services rendered. All funds raised will be used toward sponsoring my trip to Chicago, Illinois and traveling throughout our great state to promote my platform.

For more information on how you can help, or to be emailed a sponsorship packet you can reach me here: MissLaIntl2013@gmail.com

Or to donate via GoFundMe here: GO FUND ME!

It is a blessing for me to have this opportunity, and I am grateful for whatever support I may receive. In turn, I will acknowledge the companies/individuals that assist me in my endeavors throughout my reign.

Yours in service,

Ashley Elizabeth Hebert

Miss Louisiana International 2013

Introducing Miss Louisiana International 2013!

2012-09-24T13:21:00.005-07:00

Woke up this morning to great news and another state title! Proud to represent the state of Louisiana in the 2013 Miss International Pageant as your Miss Louisiana International 2013!

Pageant Week: Day 6 (FINALS)

2012-08-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

After performing a great opening number with my sister queens, I stand and wait (and pray) for my name to be called in the section of the Top 15 contestants. The hosts get to number 14....and I am shaking.....FINALLY my name is called and I have made the Top 15.

After on-stage question we rush back to compete the remaining parts of the competition. I can honestly say this was the BEST I have everrrr performed my talent selection and I am extremely proud of that, especially bc I could hear audience members co-signing and agreeing with what I was saying. I didn't stumble or stutter once and I walked off stage feeling absolutely touched by Him, bc through Him I was able to relay an important message.

Tonight I was blessed to make the Top 15 of the 2012 Miss Black USA Pageant, the who's who of women of color. Although I leave without the national title, I am so blessed to be a part of this organization and thankful for the sisterhood built throughout my reign. Thank you all for your positive and kind words of support. No matter what, I am still your Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, and will continue to make an impact even after the conclusion of my reign in November.

I am blessed to have every one of you on my side supporting me. This journey has really shown me a lot about how the devil uses people to hurt you and keep you down, even those put in place to actually help you....but it's important to keep pushing, keep succeeding, and KEEP SMILING no matter what they say. Say updated on my reign my liking my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MBLUSA2012

Back to Louisiana to complete my reign!

Pageant Week: Day 5

2012-08-12T23:18:00.001-07:00

Today was a great day! This morning was the 2012 Miss Black USA Praise & Worship Prayer Breakfast. I really thought it was going to be boring and long, but it really help me grow even closer to my sister queens.

After breakfast and opening prayer, we were blessed to receive the word from our guest preacher in a very moving sermon. Followed by a song from 2011 Miss Black USA Talented Teen Jasmin Sessoms, each queen introduced themselves and was supposed to give their favorite quote. This quickly turned into testimonials of how the Lord had brought each of us through this journey to get to this pageant. We learned of the ups and downs one another faced, and how the Lord brought us through it. It re-enforced the responsibility being queen hold: giving back and giving thanks.

I learned so much this morning about my beautiful sister queens. Tears were definitely following and it made me sad as I realized I would be leaving soon.

I also had the opportunity to thank my mother. I said, "she pushed me to want more for myself...so I have to push others....I thank her today for giving me her last over and over and for being here with me this week."

Although we have our moments, my mother is phenomenal and continues to give me her last everyday.

After the breakfast we finally had some downtime! So Dominique took advantage and got some playtime in!

Miss Black Washington USA and I

Washington Memorial

MLK

After playtime it was back to the hotel to attend the 2012 Miss Black USA Talented Teen Pageant. They are our little sisters, and we were front row center to watch and support them.

These 12 contestants were truly amazing, especially MY teen Tori! I definitely felt mixed emotions when they announced that she did not place, however she was awarded the community service award for outstanding service to the community. I really wanted Team Louisiana to win, but Tori is already a winner. At 13 she founded a nonprofit foundation, was accepted to a prestigious performing arts high school, and has a rocking single available for purchase on iTunes. At 13?! It's crazy! But she is humble and fully aware of her responsibility to the community.

After the pageant we had rehearsal.

Finals are creeping uppppp. I have no problem telling the truth: I'm feeling anxious and unsettled, and prayerful that I make the Top 15. I want to be Miss Black USA 2012 and am anxious for the opportunity to really compete tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning we will tour the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children before heading to the University of DC Performing Arts Theater for FINALS at 7p! Which shoooould be broadcast live via the Internet from the Miss Black USA website

Pageant Week: Day 4 (PRELIMS)

2012-08-11T23:02:00.001-07:00

It's finally here! Prelim today. This morning we completed Part 1 - Fitness & Evening Gown. For fitness I wore a custom roller derby uniform with rhinestones on the back that said, "Captain", and of course it was my favorite color, purple.

For evening gown, I made a last minute decision to wear one Jovani gown over another, and I'm glad I did. Totally felt like a princess and rocked my walk! Felt really great about both. One great things to witness today was my beautiful sister queens HELPING one another backstage, curling hair, pinning fashion emergencies, and praying together. I was almost moved to tears at one point as I sat back and watched these phenomenal women help each other for this competition.

It was also nice to see some of the great state directors that were also present this week to help their queens succeed. It's really great when Black women support each other, and it's a shame that more do not -__-

Besties...Miss Black Illinois (Imani Josey) and Miss Black Washington (Domonique Price)

I couldn't have asked for a better roomie! Miss Black Massachusetts, Lenora Benson

Later in the evening we completed Part 2 of prelims - On-Stage question and Talent. I'm not even going to lie, both parts are now a blur to me! It was so fast!

My on-stage question asked me what would I like to see happen in the future to the long-standing staple "Barbie"....I said growing up I had few positive Black role models and because self-esteem and self-love in young girls is so important and starts at a young age, I would love to see more brown skin Barbies which reflect the vast array of women of color.

Talent....I don't feel I did bad at all. Definitely got the message across the way I intended. My talent was an adaptation of the poem, "The Sociology of the Black Woman". It is a very powerful statement and I'm glad I selected it.

Soooooo now IT's 2:00am and I'm so exhausted. Relieved that prelims are over, but incredibly anxious to find out the Top 15 on Monday. I want more than anything to make Top 15 and compete for the national title.

Tomorrow we have the Prayer Breakfast and the 2012 Talented Teen Pageant. I'm excited to support my little sister Tori Turner take this pageant by storm!

Also, if you haven't cast your vote for me for People's Choice Award, PLEEEEEASE get on this NOW! Voting ends Sunday, August 12 at midnight! Vote here: www.missblackusa.org Thanks! Goodnight! I'm exhausted!

Pageant Week: Day 3

2012-08-10T21:59:00.000-07:00

Here we go! So today was the first "official" day of prelims with our individual interviews with the judges. We were broken up in two groups by number (I'm number 4) and assigned a time to interview.

First, we had amaaaaazing runway rehearsal with world-renowned model and actress Stacie McKenzie (You can see her in The 5th Element, the flight attendant with all the freckles before Chris Tucker makes his appearance in the movie).

The role Stacie was handpicked from ONE photo in a magazine to play

She totally TRANSFORMED our walks and style to give us a new dynamic on-stage. I can now officially say I've been trained by a world class professional. We also found out that she will be co-hosting prelims tomorrow!

Next, we headed to dress for interviews. After taking a moment to as the Lord to order my steps and words, I walked into my interview and can say I rocked it! The questions weren't hard, as the other queens would agree, but they allowed me to really make the interview mine and show the judges who I am and what I am about.

Waiting for my interview!

I'm ready to do the rest of the prelims tomorrow, show my stuff, and make Top 15! **Prelims will NOT be streamed online tomorrow, although the finals will be on Monday**

Mom, Chris, and Evan finally came in today and are enjoying DC!

2012-08-09T18:46:00.003-07:00

What an experience to be practicing our opening number routine to "I'm Every Woman" on Whitney's BDay! Sooooo excited!

Pageant Week: Day 2

2012-08-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

Orientation Day!

This morning the delegates attended our official orientation where we presented our stiletto project. Each lady was to prepare a short oral introduction and describe her special personality with her stiletto and an arts & craft visual made from a poster. Miss Black Alabama 2009 Kimberly Brown facilitated the event.

After a quick lunch, we each had our talent review with the pageant producer. Went very well and they liked it! SOOO excited to show everyone else!

In the hallway waiting for our talent review with the producer.

Then we went on to rehearsal for the opening number. Love the dance and Love the song!! Our choreographer did the dancing for Dreamgirls on Broadway!

Charis Wilder, Miss Black Alabama USA and I at opening number rehearsal. Love her, but we will beat Bama this year!

After rehearsal we had a short break to prepare for a top secret evening activity. While waiting we ran into our little sisters, the Talented Teen delegates!! First time seeing my teen Tori Turner in months! Here she is!

We get upstairs to the CEO Suite and we are finally given our mission: The 2012 Miss Black USA Scavenger Hunt! Each team was required to take pics with the required items. Some of the required items included:

Someone over the age 65
Someone wearing The Red Dress pin
The Jefferson room of the hotel
A cute pic of stilettos
Etc. Etc, Etc

Although my group lost horribly (last place LOLOL) we had a great time. What a sight to see pageant contestants RUNNING around the hotel like this!

I had a really great day. We will close the evening out with a debriefing meeting with Mama K and then off to bed. We have a full day of rehearsals tomorrow including our first preliminary: THE INTERVIEW!

Pageant Week: Day 1

2012-08-08T21:36:00.000-07:00

It is officially pageant week! I arrived in DC this morning and met up with Miss Black Michigan and Missouri to catch the shuttle to the Washington Hilton. After I was settled I put my gifts together for all the queens...a pageant week survival kit for each of them. Because I wouldn't be allowed to bring them to orientation tomorrow, I would have to find a creative way to get them to each delegate.

Alescia Maraboushontrell Hollowell, Miss Black Michigan USA & Diana Atai Emuge, Miss Black Missouri USA

After some free time, several other queens and I visited the Smithsonian sculpture garden and grabbed some lunch, then back to the hotel to get dressed for the 2012 Red Dress Reception.

The Heart Truth^® is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through the campaign, NHLBI leads the nation in a landmark heart health awareness movement that is being embraced by millions who share the common goal of better heart health for all women.

As a voice for the Heart Truth campaign, the Miss Black USA Organization strives to warn women about heart disease and provides tools to help them take action against its risk factors.

Tonight's reception was a celebration of the hard work we have all completed throughout our reigns, The Heart Truth AND our personal platform. Each delegate was allowed a chance to introduce themselves and their platform and give the group their favorite quote upon closing.

Domonique Price, Miss Black Washington USA & Imani Josey, Miss Black Illinois USA

Shelby Jenkins, Miss Black Kentucky USA

After the reception all the queens came to our room (Miss Black Massachusetts and I :) ) and got their gifts. Everyone was surprised and loved them! Thanks Brenda lol!

Bedtime. Orientation and rehearsals start tomorrow!

Meet Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012!

2012-07-23T12:10:00.001-07:00

BLACK WOMEN REDEFINED: Meet the people's advocate and Miss Black Louisiana, Ashley Hebert! A political ally you can count on, Ashley holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master's in Public Administration. Show some love for your Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012!

What Will You Contribute?

2012-06-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

"The women of the world have so much to contribute." Hillary Clinton

Like Secretary Clinton, I too believe that women everywhere hold the key to thriving societies. As Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, it is my responsibility to lead by example and show women of color that although they may face roadblocks, no one can prevent them from achieving their hopes and dreams.

I feel it is important to help women raise their expectations and leave a legacy for the next generation. Being a role model leaves positive reinforcement to girls and young women within the state of Louisiana. I want them to see and understand the positive impact pursuing educational endeavors, obtaining careers, and giving back to their communities may yield.

I'm honored to be a part of an organization which strives to do the same! Please help me get to the 2012 Miss Black USA Pageant by making a small donation towards my fundraising efforts! Every $1 counts :)

TAKE 25

2012-05-22T08:48:00.003-07:00

Take 25 is a preventive child safety campaign created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in honor of National Missing Children’s Day. Annually honored on May 25th, this day serves as a reminder to the nation to make child safety a national priority.

Designed to raise awareness of the issues surrounding missing and exploited children, the Take 25 campaign encourages parents, guardians, educators, and others to take 25 minutes to talk to children about safety. With a focus on prevention, Take 25 provides communities with free safety resources including safety tips, conversation starters, and engaging activities. Take 25’s resources are available free of charge and can be found at local Take 25 events.

In 2007, NCMEC joined forces with more than 100 local and national organizations to launch the Take 25 campaign. With the help of our partner organizations, more than 375 Take 25 child safety events were hosted in communities across the United States and abroad. While this was a great achievement for the first year, the Take 25 campaign has continued to grow each year, hosting more than 7,000 events in 2011. Since its inception a total of 13,000 Take 25 events have been hosted in nearly 4,000 cities throughout the United States and abroad.

Childhood is full of rewards and potential risks. As babies become toddlers, they are more prone to bumps, bruises, falls, and distractions. As children grow into teenagers, they become increasingly independent and are more apt to explore, live life, and socialize with less family supervision.

Fortunately, potential risks children face throughout their lives can be lessened when parents and guardians teach safety concepts. While it may not be possible for parents and guardians to be with their children every minute of the day, they can spend time talking to them, setting appropriate limits, and helping them make good choices.

Just minutes of prevention can make a huge impact in the life of a child.

Can you ROCK my crown??

2012-05-17T08:24:00.004-07:00

As the world has shown us, the true foundation of a woman’s worth is achieved through education and higher learning. They are also expected to be poised, know their etiquette, and be the face of growth.

This is where the Miss Black Louisiana USA organization is of a great benefit to the state of Louisiana and the future of black women. As Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, I am currently seeking the best and the brightest to compete in the 2012 Miss Black Louisiana USA Scholarship Pageant.

I am writing you to ask for your assistance. We offer the opportunity to young women between the ages of 19-26 to display their beauty, talents, and accomplishments. Miss Black Louisiana USA advocates scholastic achievement, and believes that education is critical to success. Our organization assists with identifying scholarships and funding opportunities to women of color pursuing their higher educational goals, while maintaining a healthy financial status through financial literacy education.

The winner, crowned Miss Black Louisiana USA 2013, will make appearances, attend educational functions, and participate in community activities across the state of Louisiana. The newly crowned queen will go on to represent Louisiana in the National Pageant to compete for over $50,000 in prizes, and will participate in several media opportunities throughout the year.

We are paving the road for the Louisiana woman, to show the world how we’ve always seen her. If you know someone that will be the perfect Miss Black Louisiana USA, please forward her name and email address to state director Tiffany Magee at missblacklouisianausa@gmail.com You can help us showcase what a true African American woman represents.

Yours in service,
Ashley E. Hebert, Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012

March to encourage voting highlights student apathy - News - The Daily Reveille - Louisiana State University

2012-03-27T15:49:00.002-07:00

March to encourage voting highlights student apathy - News - The Daily Reveille - Louisiana State University#.T3I-aF15hFE

Women's History Month - Diahann Carroll

2012-03-08T08:58:00.000-08:00

In honor of Women's History Month, I will be blogging and Facebooking about Black women in several fields whom I believe to be trailblazers and positive examples for us.

The first...Ms. Diahann Carroll.

Many people may not know, but I began my acting "career" in theatre, as did Diahann. Her achievements in theatre led to groundbreaking achievements for Black women in television, as well as film. Broadway roles for black singers were rare but at age 19, Diahann was cast in the Harold Arlen/Truman Capote musical "House of Flowers". Starring the indomitable Pearl Bailey.

In 1954 she and Ms. Bailey supported a riveting Dorothy Dandridge as femme fatale Carmen Jones (1954) in an all-black, updated movie version of the Georges Bizet opera "Carmen."

Little did Diahann know that in the late 1960s she would break a major ethnic barrier on the small screen. Though it was nearly impossible to suppress the natural glamour and sophistication of Diahann, she touchingly portrayed an ordinary nurse and widow struggling to raise a small son in the series "Julia" (1968). Despite other Black American actresses starring in a TV series Diahann became the first full-fledged African-American female "star" -- top billed, in which the show centered around her lead character. The show gradually rose in ratings and Diahann won a Golden Globe award for "Best Newcomer" and an Emmy

nomination.

The breast cancer survivor and Tony award winner is also an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. "I like to think I opened doors for other women, although that wasn't my original intention."

Thank you for opening these doors and helping shape roles for Black women in television and film! Diahann Carroll is flawless. Period. Point blank. When I think of modern-vintage I think of her. She has a timeless look and has always embodied the epitome of class and grace.

My Speech from the 2012 LSU Mr. and Miss Imani Pageant

2012-03-05T12:25:00.001-08:00

I recently had the honor of serving as judge of the LSU Mr. and Miss Imani Pageant! I was allowed to speak during the course of the evening. During this time I felt it necessary speak on an issue which seems to constantly plague my Twitter and Facebook feeds....The Black Woman in the media.

The evening before the pageant, the reality television show "Basketball Wives aired", leading to an all-night commentary about the show and its stars. If my grandmother were alive today, she would say, 'Do you know your lesson as well as you know TV?" I could just hear her now! If I could meet any of the stars of the show, I would tell them to strive to use their position in the media for more positive means by lifting young Black women up.

So I took the time to focus my remarks during the pageant on my responsibility of ending the negative stereotypes of Black women in the media, instead of my platform:

"My name is Ashley Hebert, and I am blessed and honored to be Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012.

I am excited to represent my Alma Mater and the state of Louisiana in the Miss Black USA pageant this August as “The Bayou Beauty” and I intend to bring the national title home to Louisiana for the first time in history.

Like my fellow contestants, I am on my journey to the crown, traveling our great state to promote my platform of “improving that state of higher education in Louisiana.” I was blessed to have my platform published nationally in The Washington Examiner and USA Today.

The 2012 state delegates have elevated the status of The Miss Black USA Organization to an entirely new level. After having the honor of meeting my Sister Queens in January, I can honestly say, these women are phenomenal. They are driven, gorgeous, and EDUCATED – 80% of the 2012 contestants hold advance degrees. And we have even been nicknamed, “the next first ladies”.

Being a figurehead of The Miss Black USA Organization also puts me in a unique position. The image of the Black woman in the media leaves mainstream society under the impression that Black women are disrespectful, unkempt, low class, and sometimes, even worse. This negative image has even recently prompted First Lady Obama to go on record to debunk the notion that she was “an angry Black woman”.

As Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, it is my RESPONSIBILITY to challenge these stereotypes by using my reign to EMPOWER women of color. It is my DUTY to show them they are more than their race…more than their gender…and more than their social status. I am in the position to be the example to show them that NO ONE can ever prevent them from walking into their own greatness. I want today’s Black woman to want more for HERSELF.

This is a cause greater than myself and I am proud to be the “new face” of the African-American woman! Miss Black USA is more than a pageant; it’s a MOVEMENT – a movement for women of color across this nation to stand up and prove that we are more than your lowered expectations of us…more than what is said in the news….and definitely more than what you see on reality television.

Ladies….my beautiful Black sisters….this is my CALL TO ACTION…it’s time to start leaving a legacy that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers would be proud of and as YOUR Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, I am proud to lead the way!"

College Goal Sunday - February 26, 2012

2012-02-22T13:05:00.000-08:00

As your Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, I am devoted to improving the state of higher education in Louisiana. I want to find and highlight ways to get Louisiana students IN school and get them OUT on time!

Louisiana College Goal Sunday^SM is a FREE event that will help you melt away the tedious process of filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to obtain financial aid. FREE on site assistance from college financial aid professionals will be provided.

This is the FIRST step to getting students financial aid for school. Free on-site assistance from financial aid professionals (and yours truly) will be provided.

This event is open to ANY student planning to attend ANY type of higher education institution in the state of Louisiana!

Don't get left behind! Register here: College Goal Sunday

Angry Black Woman

2012-02-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

Recently First lady Michelle Obama went on record to challenge assertions she's forcefully imposed her will on White House aides and says people have inaccurately tried to portray her as "some kind of angry black woman." Many of the only Black images in the media portray Black women as angry, unruly, distasteful, or even worse. Any day of the week you can see drama on television series that reinforce these stereotypes to mainstream America.

As Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, I join the 2012 Miss Black USA delegates as the new face of the African American woman. With 80% of my sister queens holding some type of advanced degree, we have been aptly dubbed, “The next first ladies”.

With that, it is my RESPONSIBILITY to nourish young women of color as much as possible by empowering them to see beyond their color or station in life by pushing them succeed. I want them to know they are more than their race, color, or gender. This cause is greater than myself, as I use my reign to challenge the image of Black women in the media from negative to positive.

I’m very proud to join the Miss Black USA organization on this MISSION. It’s more than a pageant, it’s a movement!

Join me on my journey to the national title! Donate here: FundRazr

Join the Miss Black Louisiana Heart Team!

2012-02-16T18:31:00.000-08:00

Risk factors are conditions or habits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. A large risk factor of heart disease?? Being PHYSICALLY INACTIVE!

As a Heart Truth campaign advocate, Miss Black Louisiana USA wants to encourage people to get moving! So we have ...a team participating in the Capital Area Heart Walk on 3/24/2012 and would love for you to walk with us wearing our official team t-shirt! Let's move!!

The Miss Black Louisiana USA Heart Walk Team is proud to partner with the LSU Public Administration Institute Student Association for this great cause! We're devoted to taking a stand against heart disease, the #1 killer of women in the US. Join the team today!!

SIGN UP TO JOIN OUR TEAM BY CLICKING THIS LINK: Join the Heart Team Here

THEN BUY YOUR TEAM SHIRT! (designed by moi lol)

It's FREE to join our team and FREE to participate in the walk! Proceeds from the t-shirt will benefit the BR American Heart Association AND expenses to get me to nationals!

Speaking The Heart Truth®

2012-02-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

The Heart Truth^®—a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease—created and introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 to deliver an urgent wake up call to American women.

On Friday, February 3, 2012, National Wear Red Day^®, Americans will wear red to show their support for women's heart health. This observance promotes the Red Dress symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in The Heart Truth's life-saving awareness-to-action movement by putting on a favorite red dress, red shirt, red tie, or Red Dress Pin. Together, we will continue to urge women to protect their hearts, as heart disease is the #1 killer of women.

The Miss Black USA Organization joins The Heart Truth^® in its efforts to eradicate heart disease. African American and Hispanic women, in particular, have higher rates of some risk factors for heart disease and are disproportionately affected by the disease compared to white women. More than 80 percent of midlife African American women are overweight or obese, 52 percent have hypertension, and 14 percent have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Please join me in this fight by attending my National Wear Red Day Celebrity Date Auction TONIGHT at 600 Main!

National Wear Red Day - February 3, 2012

2012-01-24T09:04:00.000-08:00

On Friday, February 3, 2012, National Wear Red Day®, Americans will wear red to show their support for women's heart health. This observance promotes the Red Dress symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in The Heart Truth campaign's life-saving awareness-to-action movement by putting on a favorite red dress, red shirt, red tie, or Red Dress Pin. Together, we will continue to urge women to protect their hearts, as heart disease is the #1 killer of women.

Please join Miss Black Louisiana USA as we start National Wear Red Day with a bang at the National Wear Red Day Celebrity Date Auction, on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 at 8pm at 600 Main!!

Miss Black USA Comes to Howard University Hospital to Promote Healthy Hearts on MLK Day

2012-01-17T10:34:00.000-08:00

The following article was posted on the Howard University Health Sciences website about our visit this weekend in DC.

WASHINGTON (Jan. 12) – Eighteen of the nation’s most beautiful women, all dressed in fabulous red gowns, will visit Howard University Hospital on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to charm patients, talk with hospital staff and D.C. area residents encourage women to take care of their hearts.

The women, Miss Black USA contestants, are in town for the annual Red Dress Photo Shoot, when the ladies adorn beautiful red dresses for a special promotional pageant photograph promoting February as Heart Month.

But the women, who hail from Minnesota, Tennessee, Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, the Virgin Islands and other states, said they to do something to help others while in D.C.

“These young ladies, as well as the organization, strongly believe that service is a part of who we are,” said Karen Arrington, who founded the organization in 1965. “We felt it was fitting to do something in tribute to a man who through his service changed America. We couldn’t think of a better place to do that than at Howard University Hospital.”

After visiting with hospital patients, the women will gather in Freedmen’s Hall for a chat with local residents and hospital staff.

One message that they particularly want to drive home is that of the importance of developing healthy habits to protect hearts.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women, Arrington said. One in four women die from heart disease annually. That is particularly true of African-American women, Arrington said.

So, for the past three years, her organization has partnered with the Heart Truth Campaign, an initiative of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“We want to encourage young women, particularly young black women, to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid heart disease in the future,” Arrington said.

“These women are not only beautiful, they’re highly intelligent,” she said.

Miss Louisiana has a master's degree in Public Administration. Miss Maryland and Miss Michigan and have master’s degrees in public health. Many of the women are undergraduates and Miss Nevada has a doctorate in physical therapy.

The event is free and open to the public. Seats, however, are limited. To register, call 202.865.1375 or email tdeyo@huhosp.org.

Miss Black USA....not a pageant, but a MOVEMENT!

2012-01-11T07:29:00.000-08:00

The Miss Black USA Pageant and Scholarship Foundation, Inc., was founded in 1986 by Karen Arrington. With civil rights activist parents, Karen was driven to form this organization due to the lack of a positive portrayal of Black women in the media. When she opened a magazine, she did not see anyone whom looked like her. She saw the pageant as a vehicle to provide scholarship to women of color, to not only showcase these intelligent, beautiful Black women, but to CHANGE THE FACE of young African American women.

Today, the movement continues with the pageant becoming the "Who's Who of Women of Color". 80% of the 2012 delegates hold advance degrees including attorneys, doctors, and public administrators.

With service and a commitment to community at the heart and soul of this organization, I am proud to represent the state of Louisiana as your Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012. Aside from my platform of improving the state of higher education in Louisiana, I am also a voice of The Heart Truth Campaign, to raise awareness of heart disease as the #1 killer of women.

Please join me on my journey to the crown by making a small donation to get me to the national competition on August 13, 2012. The countdown is on and I cannot do it without your support. I am passionate about my approach to my platform, and believe education is the KEY!

Click HERE to donate! Thank you!

My Mission as YOUR Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012

2012-01-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

As YOUR Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, I am on a mission to improve the state of higher education in Louisiana. It is my goal to adequately prepare Louisiana students for college, get them enrolled, and keep them there! And then keep them in the state of Louisiana as a contributing member to the Louisiana economy. I want to improve enrollment and retention rates of students, as they are a driving force behind the Louisiana economy.

Improving Higher Education in Louisiana

Improving the state of higher education in Louisiana does not have a simple, textbook answer. But one thing is certain, a child’s progression towards a college degree starts long before they ever set foot on a college campus.

Importance Statewide

Many fail to realize the economic power holding a college degree may have. Someone with a Bachelor’s Degree earns up to $25,000 more per year on average than someone with just a high school diploma (State Legislatures. June 2011. Bautsch. Page 24). A degree translates into more revenue flowing statewide in numerous ways:

Average career is 40 years, so that extra $25,000 per year translates into $1 million more in career earnings
Higher income translates into higher tax revenue for the state.
College graduates generally pay more in income and sales taxes, while depending less on social service programs like Medicaid or federal assistance.
College graduates are more likely to be employed.

The big issue facing the state of Louisiana is that at least two out of every five college students do not graduate – making risky investments for state programs such as TOPS. Weak academic preparation in K-12 is the fourth leading cause to college dropout (Bautsch).

The number of nationwide, jobs requiring some form of training or education beyond high school will continue to increase. By 2018, it is estimated that close to 33 percent of jobs will require at least a Bachelor’s Degree and 29 percent will require at least a certificate or associate degree (State Legislatures. June 2011. Colvin & Hinton. Page 12). With that being said, strengthening higher education will have a direct and positive correlation to a state’s economic, social, and cultural health.

People of Color being left behind

Tight budgets have handcuffed lawmakers into considering options that could change the face of public universities forever. How does higher education adjust so it can still flourish while facing massive budget constraints? – Tuition. Fundamental changes in the way the state operates and finance public universities must change if it will continue to offer high quality education to all students regardless of the socioeconomic backgrounds or ethnicity. The move to fund universities based on academic performance is starting to take hold with the passing of legislation such as the LA Grad Act and LA Grad Act 2.0. These pieces of legislation help the state set goals for colleges. They are performance contracts between the state and schools to detail what the state will provide, and what performance level they expect out of the university to continue to fund at that level. This trend is slowly draining the ‘public’ out of public education. State universities are beginning to run like private enterprises, and charging high tuition makes attaining a quality education available to only a certain sector of the population. This leads to market driven policies which increase economic and social stratification among students, a blow to the policy objective of equal educational opportunity for all (State Legislatures. June 2011. Bell. Page 21).

My platform for Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012 has a three prong approach:

Pre-K: High quality pre-school programs have long lasting effects by improving student outcomes well into adulthood. Research shows much improved educational skills and higher test scores. Evaluation of LA 4 shows student advancement within ONE year in language, literacy, and math skills when compared to peers not enrolled in a Pre-K program (Center for Child Development. “LA4 Longitudinal Report” La Department of Education. 2007). With weak academic preparation being the No. 3 reason college students fail to return for their sophomore year, the need of a strong foundation of early childhood development is one way to improve higher education success. As part of my platform, I will strive to inform citizens of the importance of early childhood development and how it affects their child and Louisiana’s future.

Improving Academic Success in K-12: The need for sustained support throughout a child’s K-12 years is imperative to their future higher educational institutional success. Failure to attain a Bachelor’s Degree could lead in the increase of jobless claims throughout the state as the percentage of jobs requiring at least a BA will continue to increase. With education levels and poverty rates running hand-in-hand. I will continue to convey the importance of improving literacy levels in Louisiana poor communities to ensure our students are prepared for higher education. My platform will focus on finding ways to ensure our African-American students are prepared for college through mentoring programs or college-prep courses; I will strive to improve educational outcomes for students.

Political Participation: Finally, too many constituents are unaware of the laws made at the state Capitol and how they can affect educational programs. As part of my platform, I would like to convey the need of voter participation in the African American community and initiate a voter registration drive.

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The Voice of The Heart Truth®

2012-01-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

In addition to my platform of improving the state of higher education in the state of Louisiana, I am also a voice of The Heart Truth® campaign of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to make women nationwide aware of the danger of heart disease.

The Miss Black Louisiana USA Team is currently planning TWO events in conjunction with The Heart Truth®:

National Wear Red Day

On Friday, February 3, 2012, National Wear Red Day^®, Americans will wear red to show their support for women's heart health. This observance promotes the Red Dress symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in The Heart Truth's^® life-saving awareness-to-action movement by putting on a favorite red dress, red shirt, red tie, or Red Dress Pin. Together, we will continue to urge women to protect their hearts, as heart disease is the #1 killer of women.

Miss Black Louisiana USA will be starting National Wear Red Day off with a bang by hosting a Celebrity Date Auction here in Baton Rouge at 600 Main! Celebs include New England Patriot Eric Alexander, critically-acclaimed author Cece Chapman, and Miss Southern University 2011-12 Chisolu Isiadind to name a few!

Capital City Heart Walk

Miss Black Louisiana USA is proud to join the American Heart Association's Heart Walk to promote physical activity to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. We have formed a team to participate in the Capital City Heart Walk on March 24, 2012 at 8:00am beginning at the LSU Old Front Nine here in Baton Rouge.

Help us reach this lifesaving goal! Join our team and purchase the official team shirt! Click this link to join us: Join the Miss Black Louisiana USA Heart Team!

Take a look at the MBLUSA 2012 Heart Team Shirt!