The University of Kentucky’s Alpha Phi Alpha chapter hosted its chapter’s annual Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant at the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center.
The Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant is a nationally held event by all Alpha Phi Alpha chapters across the country. On Dec. 4, UK’s chapter gave contestants the chance at the title, as well as a scholarship reward.
The winner of the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant also gets the opportunity to represent their university’s chapter at the district level in hopes of advancing all the way to the national stage.
Contestants showcased their talents, passions and academics over the course of the event hosted by Myles Fields, the historian for Alpha Phi Alpha, and Zoie Saundars, the previous year’s Miss Gold.
Saunders explained how coming back as a host was a “full circle moment,” as she hoped that the pageant was a joyful experience for both participants and attendees.
“It’s really great to see like, people that were in my shoes, get to have the experience and live it out,” Saunders said. “I just want people to feel the warmth that the girls share with each other.”
As contestants took the stage, they shared their platforms, which are the causes they promote. Ranging from equitable healthcare to disability advocacy, contestants were able to inform attendees about topics that mattered to them.
Stephanie Fischer, the event’s “pageant mom” and an accommodations specialist with UK’s Disability Resource Center, said the pageant was a way for contestants to advocate for the issues they care about to a larger audience.
“What they want to do with their careers is give back to the community, especially marginalized populations,” Fischer said. “This gives them an opportunity and platform to reach people they wouldn’t reach before.”
Fischer said that while the winner holds the title, she will serve the community alongside the chapter.
“She’s (Miss Black and Gold) not just wearing a crown. It is a position, and she will be going out in the community with the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha,” Fischer said.
Along with the platform portion of the pageant, contestants also competed in events like athletics, talent and formal wear.
Pierre PetitFrere, the chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha, as well as the pageant chair, said he hoped giving contestants a space to display what they have to offer would be a “confidence booster.”
“This is a scholarship pageant of course, but also just an opportunity for young women to show the world who they are and shine bright in their life,” PetitFrere said.
PetitFrere also touched on the significance the pageant holds for the Alpha Phi Alpha organization, as its been a long-standing tradition. This year, UK’s chapter held the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant on their Founder’s Day, celebrated Dec. 4 each year since the fraternity’s founding in 1906.
“I remember I was also in a mentor program in sixth grade, and I actually did get to see the scholarship pageant one year,” PetitFrere said. “The longevity lives on.”
While the pageant itself holds notable meaning for the chapter, the new location of the pageant also holds importance.
Christian Adair, the executive director of the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, as well as a former UK Alpha Phi Alpha chapter member, explained how during his time in the chapter, the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant was held in UK’s Memorial Hall, which shows a mural he described as “degrading” to his community.
“The mural there depicted enslaved Black people as if they were happy. And it’s still there, and it doesn’t tell the truth, doesn’t tell the story,” Adair said.
Adair said that the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center was not just a theater, but a “community space” that’s welcoming of those from all backgrounds.
“This is the most diverse space you can be in that’s more welcoming and loving than anywhere else,” Adair said. “You come in here, and this is all about love.”
As the pageant ended, both audience members and contestants celebrated Trinity Cardell, a sophomore on the pre-med psychology track, as she was crowned this year’s Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant winner.
Cardell reminisced on her experience alongside other contestants, saying they have “all gotten close” throughout pageant rehearsals and preparation.
“I love these girls,” Cardell said. “This has been a really good experience.”
Moving forward as Miss Black and Gold, Cardell said she hopes her platform advocating for minority mental health grows, and she can make a difference in the community during her reign.
“I want to be able to give out to the community and serve and just be a beacon of light,” Cardell said. “Being able to put my roots here, I feel like I can really make a change over time.”
