History made as black women win Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America

For the first time in history, Miss USA 2019, Miss Teen USA 2019, and Miss America 2019 are all black women.

Cheslie Kryst was announced as Miss USA on Thursday May 2nd, there by completing the historic trio. 

Miss USA, Cheslie Kryst

Nia Franklin was crowned Miss America 2019 in September 2018 and, recently, Kaliegh Garris was crowned 2019 Miss Teen USA.

Miss America, Nia Franklin

Worthy of note is the fact that both Kryst and Garris refused to straighten their hair for the pageant. In fact, Garris’ coily hair was such a huge topic of discussion on social media.

Miss Teen USA, Garris

Garris told Refinery21 that while some people tried to convince her to straighten her hair for the Miss Teen USA competition, she opted for her natural curls because when she’s wearing them, she feels confident.

In 2012 Black women simultaneously wore crowns as Miss Teen USA and Miss USA.