2nd Annual
2023 Competition & Events
#MoreThanAPageant
Congratulations to the
2023 Crowned
Junior Miss Juneteenth America & Teen Miss Juneteenth America
2023
Junior Miss Juneteenth America
Mariah Smith of Mobile, AL
Mariah is a rising junior at UMS-Wright Preparatory School, where she is an exceptional student. She is actively involved in a number of activities at her school to include the jazz band, marching band and a number of clubs such as the key club, sociology club, scrub club, WOW (words of wisdom) club, photography club, art history club, art guild club, theater club, ASL club, Spanish club, and book club. She is also passionate in her community by working with the junior league of Mobile, Fostering Together, and the Jazz studio. She also enjoys painting in her spare time.
Her favorite quote is:
Don’t settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had. – Angela Bassett
2023
Teen Miss Juneteenth America
Karrington Bourgeois-Wilkins of Los Angeles, CA
Karrington is a rising junior at St. Mary’s Academy in Inglewood, California, where she maintains honor roll while being involved in both the activism club and the book club. She is also heavily involved in a number of activities to support her community such as the West Angeles Education & Enrichment Process, United Voices of Peace Choir and the Ladylike Foundation. She is the recipient of a number of awards such as Miss Juneteenth Los Angeles 2022/2023, Little Miss African American Scholarship recipient, Alpha Kappa Alpha Tau Beta Omega Chapter Poetry Slam Winner. She is also a soon-to-be published author of the book titled: Full Circle Moments in Anthology: When God Shows You Before He Shows You. Her hobbies include writing poetry, reading comic books, singing and watching movies.
Her favorite quote is:
When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree, beside the river of truth and knowledge and tell the whole world–“No you move.” – Steve Rodgers, Captain America (Amazing Spiderman #537)
2023 Pageant Winners
2023
Junior Miss Juneteenth America
First Runner Up
Caidyn King of Mobile, AL
Caidyn is a rising sophomore at Blount High School, where she is on the honors track. She has been involved in a number of extracurricular activities in and out of school including track, cheer and dance. She also has numerous awards including Head Cheerleader at Clark-Shaw, National Honor Society Elementary & Middle, and Best in Show & 1st Place Winner at the Mobile County Public School Science Fair. Her leadership skills date back to her elementary school years, when she served as the President of Olive J. Dodge Elementary School. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing.
Her favorite quote is:
Still I rise. – Maya Angelou
2023
Teen Miss Juneteenth America
First Runner Up
Caleah Beverly of Mobile, AL
Caleah is a recent graduate of John L. Leflore Magnet High School, where she was an exceptional student. She was actively involved in a number of activities at her school including Varsity Basketball, FBLA Secretary, SGA President, Hi-Q Team, Scholars Bowl Team, and Health Occupations of America – HOSA . She is also passionate in her community by working with Youth Violence Prevention, Lamb of God Christian Center, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Her favorite quote is:
Today, I will do what others won’t so tomorrow you can accomplish what others can’t. – Jerry Rice
Junior Miss Juneteenth America
Category Winners
- Best BeYoutiful: Mariah Smith
- Best Career Aspirations: Mariah Smith
- Best Talent: Mariah Smith
- Best Formal: Brooke Moore
Teen Miss Juneteenth America
Category Winners
- Best BeYoutiful: Karrington Bourgeois-Wilkins
- Best Career Aspirations: Karrington Bourgeois-Wilkins
- Best Talent: Caleah Beverly
- Best Formal: Karrington Bourgeois-Wilkins
2023
Junior Miss Juneteenth America
Participants
Jaleah is a rising freshman at Davidson High School. While a student at Denton Magnet School of Technology she played volleyball and was on the cheer team. She also dances with Mobile Ballet. She is already an accomplished entrepreneur and has her own business – Blaque Beauty. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping.
Her favorite quote is:
If you no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. – Marcus Garvey
Yasmin is a rising eighth grade homeschooled student. A native of Pensacola, Florida, she is active in her church where she serves as a praise dancer. She also enjoys reading and singing.
Her favorite quote is:
The Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.– Lao Tzu
Zy’taevian is a rising junior Mattie T. Blount High School, where she is an honor student. She is actively involved in a number of activities at her church to include praise dance. She is passionate about working to minimize gun violence. She also enjoys doing hair in her spare time.
Her favorite biblical quote is:
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. – Psalm 55:22
Brihanna is a rising freshman at Bayside Academy, where she is on the A/B honor roll while also playing basketball and volleyball. She is passionate about serving the community and loves helping children. She enjoys playing the saxophone. She is also passionate about fashion design. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music and creating beats.
Her favorite quote is:
Just Do It. – Nike
Brooke is a rising freshman at Mobile Christian School, where she is an honor student. She serves in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is the recipient of the Pin-it-Forward award and a member of Duke Tip and the National Junior Honor Society. She actively serves as a volunteer for various ministries to include Kingsway Worship Volunteer, Dauphin Way Baptist Church Nursery Volunteer, and Kids Friday Fun Night Volunteer. She recently made the varsity cheer team and served as cheer captain during her middle school years. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, biking, shopping, arts/crafts and working on STEM projects.
Her favorite quote is:
Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard! –Tim Notke
Conner is a rising sophomore at Mattie T. Blount High School, where she is an exceptional student. She is actively involved in a number of activities including Marching Band and Girl Scouts. She is also passionate in her community by doing Youth Usher Board at her church.
Her favorite quote is:
I’m living my life to the fullest.
2023
Teen Miss Juneteenth America
Participants
Elizabeth is a recent graduate of Mattie T. Blount High School, where she was an exceptional student. She was actively involved in a number of activities in her church and community. She takes cheer classes and is involved in the Spiritual light dance ministry. She is also active with Lead One Tech One and the JEWELS ministry, Ronald McDonald House, and Exposure Inc. to name a few. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, drawing and playing with her Chihuahua, Bella.
Her favorite quote is:
Your life is your own. Don’t waste it trying to be what others expect you to be. Don’t sacrifice your happiness to make everybody happy. Don’t give up on your dreams to build other people’s dreams. Your life is your own. BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE.– Unknown
Trinity is a rising senior at Daphne High School, where she maintains above a 4.0 GPA. She takes AP courses and is also a dual enrollment student taking an advanced course in History. While maintaining high academic achievement, she balances serving on the Jubilee Girls Dance Team, the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society and the Student Government Association. She is also a student at Susan’s Dance Academy, where she has earned numerous awards including the Crystal Diamond Award, the Platinum Award and a Double Platinum Award landing her a spot as a soloist dance performer. She also serves as a Beyond Boundaries special needs assistant and a teacher assistant at her dance academy. She has a number of hobbies, including relaxing at the beach and eating out at restaurants. She enjoys styling hair and applying make-up.
Her favorite biblical quote is:
The yes to all God’s promises is in Christ, and through Christ we say yes to the glory of God. – 2 Corinthians 1:20
Ramani is a rising junior at Vigor High School, where she served as an Ambassador and maintains a 4.0 GPA while balancing work and extracurricular activities. She proudly serves as an Ambassador for the book Evolved Girl by Jackie Deas. Some of her extracurricular activities in school include cheer, track, and soccer. She also served in the band her freshman year. She is very passionate about her community and works with organizations like SWAMP and Whitley Elementary, where she discusses the book Evolved Girls with students. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and being creative.
Her favorite biblical quote is:
God is within her, she will not fail. –Psalm 46:5
2023
Miss Juneteenth America Scholarship Pageantry Program
Events
This year’s program consists of 13 young ladies with one even hailing from Los Angeles, California to participate in the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageantry Program. In addition to competing for two national titles – Junior Miss Juneteenth and Teen Miss Juneteenth – the young ladies will embark on an educational and inspirational experience. This includes participating in an Archaeology Camp, a series of workshops to include financial literacy, public speaking, a career sister circle, an HBCU Resource Fair and more! These young ladies have been working diligently on researching a historical figure, selecting a career path and discovering the meaning of Juneteenth.
The public is invited to three events. The Miss Juneteenth Second Line Parade will roll on June 16, 2023 at 6:19pm. The pageant will follow on June 17, 2023 with a welcome reception at 4:00pm with the pageant beginning at 5:00pm. The brunch will conclude the weekend on June 18, 2023 followed by a tour of Africatown. All events are held at the Battle House Hotel & Spa in beautiful downtown Mobile, Alabama.
June 16, 2023 at 6:19 PM
Secondline Parade
June 17, 2023 at 4:00 PM
Scholarship Pageant
June 18, 2023 at 11:00 AM
Scholarship Brunch
2023 Archeology Camp Hostess & Workshop Presenters
June 15-16, 2023
Archaeology Camp Hostess
Workshop Presenters
2023 Secondline Parade
June 16, 2023
The Maynard 4 Foundation presents its first Juneteenth Second Line Parade as we celebrate the Second Annual Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageantry Program™, Friday, June 16, 2023!
This celebratory parade will be led by our 2023 Miss Juneteenth America Royal Court, Parade Hostess, Ms. Amberly “Bambie” Harris, and the famous Excelsior Band 1883 of Mobile, Alabama. Bring your family and friends, and be a part of this legendary celebration! This is a free event open to the public.
Parade Hostess
Excelsior Band 1883
2023 Pageantry Program Special Guests & Judges
June 17, 2023
Pageant Hostess
Mistress of Ceremonies
Keynote Speaker
2023 Pageant Judges
2023 Pageantry Brunch Special Guests
June 18, 2023
Mistress of Ceremony
Keynote Speaker
Special Guests
Photo Gallery
Thank You to Our 2023 Sponsors!
We are extremely thankful to all of our sponsors that helped make this program a success. Our generous sponsors include:
Platinum Sponsors:
Hancock Whitney
Suntrease Williams-Maynard, Esq.
Gold Sponsors:
Trustmark
City Council Cory Penn, District 1, City of Mobile
C.H.E.S.S.
Silver Sponsors:
Lad Drago, State Farm
Mobile Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
Vaughn, Poe, and Bishop LLC
Loreka Credle
Sherri Thomas
Stephanie Nash
Brunch Sponsor
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Nguyen
Tour Sponsor
Dora Franklin Finley African-American Heritage Trail Tour
Second Line Sponsors
Downtown Mobile Alliance
Hancock Whitney Bank
Sophiella Gallery
Crown Sponsors
Auditocity
VETS (Visualize Everyone That Serves)
Joshua Jones
HBCU Resource Fair Sponsor
Adams & Reese LLP
In-kind Sponsors
Sophiella Gallery
Bay Images
Encore
Chick-fil-a
The Battle House Hotel
Guru Designs
NSpireU
AfricaTownTours.com
Publix
Downtown Mobile Alliance
Winn Dixie
Sam’s Club
Bishop State Community College
Additional Supporters
Alabama Humanities Alliance
National Endowment for the Humanities
Hairstylist & Makeup Artist:
Kristi Pride, Owner of Neu Image
Yolanda Richardson Hunter, Mary Kay Independent Sales Director
Thank you to all of the following HBCUs who contributed to our 2023 HBCU Resource Fair!
We are thankful to all the HBCUs that generously provided materials to make our HBCU Resource Fair a success. They include the following:
Additionally, we are thankful to the alumnae and current students that participated representing a number of HBCUs to include Alabama A&M University, Dillard University, Grambling State Univer-sity, Hampton University, Jackson State University, Lincoln University, Shaw University, Southern University, Texas Southern University, Tougaloo College, and Tuskegee University.
We are also thankful to Adams and Reese, LLP for sponsoring the HBCU Resource Fair.
Charities Impacted
McKemie Place
Utopian Legacy: Lead One, Teach One Project Inspire
Stand Up Mobile
A Servant’s Love
The Penelope House
Fostering Together
Ronald McDonald House
Sickle Cell Association of Mobile
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The James Gray Educational Foundation, Inc.
