Tonille Watkis Crowned Miss Black Connecticut 2016 (4127 hits)
In light of her many accolades, Tonille Watkis will represent the state of Connecticut as an ambassador of the national premier pageant for women of color at nationals this August.
Tonille is an alumna of Adelphi University and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art studying Theatre and Classical Acting. She travels to inner city schools and churches performing her autobiographical one- woman play entitled "No Boxes Allowed" and teaching theatrical performance, creative writing, dance, and diversity workshops to at risk youth. In efforts to advocate for her platform Perfecting Your Voice: Freeing Your Mind.
After nearly 20 years Miss Black Connecticut USA will be making its return to the state’s capital this September. The premier pageant for women of color, Miss Black Connecticut USA, is a division of the Miss Black USA pageantry system. Miss Black USA has awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to women of color.
The reintroduction of the Miss Black Connecticut USA pageant is one more milestone in the pageant’s prestigious legacy and history. 1,000’s of women of color from all 50 states have had the opportunity to participate and compete for their reign as Miss Black USA in DC in addition to compete in Africa. Miss Black USA contestants and winners come from all walks of life ranging from personalities, students, doctors, lawyers and successful business leaders. In 2007 over 80% of contestants were pursuing graduate or professional degrees while also competing for the crown. Last year, Madison Gibbs was crowned Miss Black USA 2015 in Washington D.C. The Howard University Law student has had the opportunity to travel the globe speaking on mental health, heart disease and women’s empowerment partnering with PBS and The Heart Truth out of others.
The Miss Black USA Pageant and Scholarship Foundation, Inc is a Non¬Profit Corporation in the state of Maryland, founded in 1986 by Karen Arrington. “Creating Miss Black USA was a way to smash the negative stereotypes and images portrayed of African American Women in mainstream media” says Arrington.
Currently, submissions are being accepted for a Miss and Talented Teen to claim the state crown of Connecticut. State winners experience a year of beauty, brains, and benevolence and receives a cash prize, scholarship, personal stylist, talent coach, and a modeling spread out of many other perks.
The Connecticut State Pageant is scheduled to take place September 15¬-19 in Hartford, Connecticut.
