YOUR QUEEN TO BE // An article about campus queens.
As written in about two of my other articles and since it’s one of the questions I’ve been asked quite a lot recently, I want to address about being involved on campus as a campus queen.
Alpha Phi Alpha | Alpha Phi Miss Black and Gold 2017-2018 // Image by @calvinlionel on IG
A few months ago, I was granted with the opportunity to try to be a queen for Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, a.k.a the Miss Black and Gold court, a court with a deep and rich history. Before I jump into that, I’m gonna discuss the journey for me personally and give tips. I’ve never pictured myself as a pageant girl, nor could I have ever imagined actually making the court and all the changes it brought. When you represent someone’s organization, whether it’s for a fraternity or the NAACP, your image is known, you literally with these people and that alone calls for change.
- to be yourself, yet uphold grace
- to love what you represent
- EXPECT challenges, face them regardless.
- work, you’re always working. cues “work, work don’t stop”
Miss Black 2017-2018 at the 2017 coronation ball at Clark Atlanta University.
However in particular to me, Miss Black and Gold stood out to me the most due to family affiliation but also because the men in the fraternity On my campus, the men of the Alpha Phi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity were SGA presidents, collegiate members, creators, activist and overall great representations of my university, I wanted to represent individuals who upheld the same standards that I had for myself. The most important thing before entering any pageant process is knowing what you want out of the experience and finding whichever organization you believe would help you achieve that. I’m currently Miss Black 2017-2018 and reflecting on that position I’ve realized how much changed in the past three months.
- I’ve learned about myself – my imperfections, my wrongdoings, and understanding who I am as an individual
- Compromise – on a court, this is imperative. You’re not always going to get what you want, compromise with your sisters and reflect
- It’s a family – and if you don’t feel like this, you’re in the wrong place
Miss Black and Miss Gold with William Burnette of Alpha Phi Chapter.
As I type up this little love letter of my personal involvement with this fraternity, I sit in a hotel room in Macon, GA watching them all compete in the district’s competition. The room is filled with laughter, and fond memories and even when it’s silent, it’s filled with a comfortable silence because I am surrounded by people I consider family. A lot of my family graduates this semester, a lot of my family is new (hello baby neos, love y’all too) but we are a family that is growing, changing and working out the kinks of life one step at a time. One semester nearly over, one more to go with some of the most influential individuals I’ve ever come across.