Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant features contestants
on their journey to “Rediscovering Our Culture and Redefining Our Freedom”
The pageant takes place June 8 at Hamline University’s Sundin Music Hall.   

Black females ages six to 30 will take the stage to compete
in the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant on Saturday, June 8. The pageant takes
place from 2 – 4 p.m. at Sundin Music Hall on the Hamline University campus, 1531 Hewitt
Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota. An awards ceremony and dinner immediately follow at the Cedars Hall
Event Center, 602 University Ave NE, Mpls, MN 55413 from 6 – 8 p.m. KARE11 reporter Kiya Edwards, is the pageant and awards ceremony emcee.

The event theme is Rediscovering Our Culture and Redefining Our Freedom. Organizers
said their vision is to inspire all participants to become better public speakers, embrace their
diversity, understand their self-worth, and boost their self-confidence. One of the goals of the
pageant is to educate the 23 contestants about the origins and purpose of Juneteenth.
“It’s important for the ladies to learn and understand that beauty resides within them, so we
provide educational, networking and career opportunities, as well as workshops to equip them
with the tools to help enhance their self-esteem,” said Angel T. Jones, chief executive officer
and founder of the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant. Contestants will also compete for
scholarships, awards, gifts, and other prizes.

The five pageant divisions are:
 Division 1: Ages 6 to 9 – Little Miss Juneteenth
 Division 2: Ages 10 to 13 – Junior Miss Juneteenth
 Division 3: Ages 14 to 18 – Teen Miss Juneteenth
 Division 4: Ages 19 to 24 – Miss Juneteenth
 Division 5: Ages 25 to 30 – Ms. Juneteenth

All contestants compete in the Essay, Evening Gown, Onstage Question & Answer and Stage
Presence & Confidence categories. This includes the optional Talent, Physical Fitness and Miss Photogenic. Judging criteria is available on the pageant’s website.
“We set a high bar and it will be a challenge for the judges to decide who will be crowned the
winner in each division,” said Pageant Advisor Rev. William Pierce. “Every contestant brings
unique attributes to the pageant which include confidence, intellect, courage and the willingness
to make a difference in the community.”
The distinguished panel of judges include:

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• Cheniqua Johnson, city councilwoman, City of St. Paul

•  Dr. Nerita Griffin Hughes, president, Bay de Noc Community College, Escanaba, Michigan

•  Roslyn Harmon, mayor of Golden Valley, Minnesota

•  Ella Mahmoud, co-chief executive officer, Seed, Inc.

•  Lanore VanBuren, Miss Minnesota 2002

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Tickets are on sale April 26 through the pageant date. Ticket prices range from $25 to $75 and
may be purchased online or at Sundin Hall’s box office on the pageant date. Pageant seating is
limited. For more information, photos and a list of sponsors, visit the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant website, call 763-226-8457, or email info@missjuneteenthmn.org.

About Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant
Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our primary
focus and objectives are to create a platform that will provide its Black contestants to
educational, networking, and career opportunities. The organization’s vision – “Rediscovering
Our Culture and Redefining our Freedom” – clearly aligns with these objectives and goals. We
want to safely open doors for our younger generation for their gifts and talents to be revealed in
a pageant setting. Visit us on our website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok social
media platforms.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Marsha Pitts-Phillips
MRPP & Associates Communications
marsha@mrppcomms.com
612-408-7828

Angel T. Jones
CEO and Founder
Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant
info@missjuneteenthmn.org
763-226-8457
 

Rev. William Pierce
Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant Advisor
2ndchanceoutreach2012@gmail.com
651-600-4087

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