Miss Unity Pageant Celebrates the Legacy and Support of Black Women on Campus

2023-2024 Miss Unity, Naomi Wilson, taking her final walk across the stage (Imani Washington-Bivans/The Black Explosion)

On Saturday, the Nyumburu Cultural Center hosted the 47th Annual Miss Unity Scholarship Pageant, hosted by University of Maryland Alum and TV personality, best known for her role on The Real Housewives of Potomac, Robyn Dixon.

This pageant's lasting impact was highlighted by the undeniable presence of students and alumni. Attendees showed their support of eight young women competing for a $4,000 scholarship funded by the Kappa Community Development Foundation, Inc.

Nyumburu Ambassador Stephanie Gladden explained her excitement in seeing the support between candidates. She hoped this would be different from other pageants, where contestants treated each other as competitors.

Trinity Smith, a sophomore criminal justice and psychology major, was crowned the Miss Unity Scholarship Pageant winner, securing four awards in total. Smith won “miss congeniality”, “best talent”, “best introduction/platform” and tied for “best answer” in the question and answer segment with fellow sophomore and 4th runner-up Makayla Joaquin.

Along with Joaquin, the pageant awarded three more runner-ups. Junior, Cyan McDonald, first runner-up, claimed two additional awards for Best Evening Gown and Poise, as well as the Pageant Booster award.

Following McDonald, juniors Shaina Mayaka, second runner-up; and Jodi Ayree, third runner-up, were also awarded.

Smith won the judges and crowd over with what Dixon describes as an, “infectious spirit,” and believes that Smith’s confidence will lead her to reach, “all facets of the Black community,” at the university.

“I think people will really enjoy having her as the Miss Unity for this year,” Dixon said.

“You have to be your biggest supporter. Especially when there's so many outside forces having different opinions. You have to be the loudest voice in your head,” Smith said.

After being crowned as 2024’s Miss Unity Scholarship pageant winner, other contestants embraced Smith, a moment parallel to an experience Maia Carroll, the first Miss Black Homecoming Queen at the University in 1978, described during the event.

“[The contestants] have come together and created a very positive community among themselves and lift each other, and that is something you're going to remember,“ Carroll said regarding the support between the contestants.

Carroll expressed her joy over the support she saw at the pageant from the Black Community, much like when she won in 1978. She mentioned that during her time at Maryland, the support from not only Black women but also Black men was important for her in order to protect her crown. Carroll acknowledged that the support from both Black men and women at the time fostered a stronger sense of community because she did not have to worry about a divide between genders.

“You know all of the love and encouragement means a lot because it translates what's already going on on campus among all of you. It didn't just happen right here tonight,” Carroll stated.

Carroll explained that she understood that wearing the crown at a predominantly white institution came with great responsibility, especially in a time of racial unrest. Despite entering the university with an SAT score that should have guaranteed her a four-year scholarship, she was told she would not receive one. Undeterred, she prioritized her academics and maintained a 3.85 GPA.

“I wanted everyone to remember that the first queen was a scholar”- Maia Carroll

She advised Black women on campus to be scholars, saying it was her priority as a student at this university.

“Always excelling in my classes no matter who else was in the classroom is number one for respect,” Carroll said.

Dixon, the event’s host, also recounted her experiences as a student president of the Kappa Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. at this university, saying that she spent a lot of her time at the Nyumburu Cultural Center.

“I love to see that the legacy of excellence at the University of Maryland in the Black community is being continued,” Dixon said.

After the pageant, Smith intends to promote excellence on campus and embody the title of Miss Unity by holding events that encourage the community to further integrate Black organizations on campus.

“As Miss Unity, I hope to foster a campus environment where all facets of Black identity feel that they have a community fighting alongside them,” Smith said.