Kentucky State University alumna makes a difference through pageantry

Kentucky State University alumna makes a difference through pageantry

Posted on February 11, 2019

A Kentucky State University alumna will represent Ohio in the upcoming Ms. Black USA pageant in Washington, D.C.

Tinesha Davis ’12 from Columbus, Ohio, was recently crowned Ms. Black Ohio and will represent the state in the Ms. Black USA pageant.

During her time at Kentucky State, Davis was a K-Rette, cheerleader and founder of Dance Extravaganza. Dance Extravaganza hosts its 10th-anniversary show in April, Davis said.

Davis said she began competing in pageants when she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2013.

“I competed in the Miss Black North Carolina pageant in 2014,” Davis said. “I did not win, however, the amount of community service and community leaders I was able to work with was simply amazing.”

Davis said she was initially afraid to compete in pageants.

“I would see these super thin and dolled up women, who, of course were articulate and amazing, but I felt since I was more curvaceous and, let’s be honest, African-American, I did not fit what they were looking for,” Davis said. “Yes, there are women of color that compete in pageants all over the world, but I wasn’t able to see a pageant system of women who look just like me.”

Davis said once she did see that in the Miss Black system, she was amazed and excited to compete.

Pageantry has opened new doors for Davis.

“I am involved in more of the community and surrounding community events and I do a lot of networking at those events to create more opportunities for me, as well as my Miss and Miss Black Teen Queen,” Davis said.

Davis said her future plans are to become a national queen, pageant coach and to create a team of young leaders that serve in different communities.

“I love being a mentor and I have coached a lot of queens, both at Kentucky State and in North Carolina,” Davis said.