Ferris State University registered student organization You Beautiful Black Woman will host its Phenomenal Woman Pageant at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27 in the Rankin Student Center Dome Room.
YBBW’s pageant honors students who possess exceptional leadership through academics and campus social life. The winner of the pageant will receive a scholarship from the organization.
The pageant, held by the organization in the past, is being resurrected this year for YBBW’s 20th anniversary.
“As leaders of the organization changed, events did also,” said Kiara Hunter, YBBW president. “However for our anniversary, we decided to resurrect the event, because we realized the importance of honoring women and the need for scholarship.”
New to the pageant this year is the utilization of a “pageant mom.” Jacqueline Wright, a previous pageant participant, will assist the students competing.
“It is imperative that we have someone who has actually participated in our pageant to work with the ladies,” Hunter said. “We also saw this as an opportunity to engage general students to become active on campus whether they join an organization or just assist in campus programming.”
Up to 10 students, from freshmen to seniors, will be competing. Pageant categories include talent, business professional questionnaire scene, photo story and a formal attire scene. Contestants will be judged based on their essays, as well as the character and morals displayed throughout the scenes.
The judges consist of Ferris faculty and administration.
The event is free and open to the public.