Ms. Black USA 2025

07/26/2026

THE RETURN: MS. BLACK USA HONORED IN EDINA 👑

When Ms. Black USA stepped onto the sacred grounds of Elmina for the historic Edina Bakatue Festival, it wasn’t just a visit. It was a spiritual homecoming.

Chosen by the chiefs, honored with a rare royal tribal title, and immersed in the deep-rooted traditions of the local community, her journey is a beautiful blueprint for diaspora reconnection.

This is what real Black royalty looks like.

07/26/2026

A CROWN. A CONTINENT. A CONNECTION TO HOME. 👑🌍

I’ve been waiting for the right moment to share this journey with you.

On July 4th, while many were celebrating Independence Day in America, I found myself in Ghana, standing in a place that carries its own powerful history of freedom and resilience: Freedom Square. 🇬🇭

Representing the Miss Black USA organization, I traveled to Ghana to support girls’ education and create a bridge reconnecting us to our ancestral home.

This moment was unforgettable.

The flying dress photoshoot at Freedom Square will stay with me forever. Watching the fabric move with the wind, surrounded by the history and beauty of Ghana, reminded me of the power of connection, heritage, and honoring where we come from.

But this is only the beginning.

Over the next several days, I’ll be sharing more moments from my Ghana journey, the people I met, and the experiences that made this trip so meaningful.
Follow along as the journey unfolds. ✨

👉🏽 Now tell me… ❤️ or 💛?
What’s your favorite color: red or yellow?

07/14/2026

July is Fibroid Awareness Month, and as a proud fibroid warrior, this cause is deeply personal to me.

I’m honored to serve as the host of the Legacy Tea during The White Dress Project Empowerment Experience on Sunday, July 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join us for a morning of inspiration, education, and meaningful conversation as we celebrate the strength and resilience of women.

Did you know that up to 80% of women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50, and Black women are disproportionately affected, developing fibroids at younger ages, with larger and more severe symptoms? Awareness leads to advocacy, and advocacy leads to change.

As someone who has walked this journey firsthand, I know the importance of community, education, and hope. I would love the opportunity to meet you, share our stories, and stand together in support of women everywhere.

I hope to see you at the Legacy Tea!

06/02/2026

NEW YORK’S RANDI-LEE IS UNSTOPPABLE

The fans have spoken! Taylor-Randi, Ms. Black New York is our Week Two People’s Choice Winner!

Learn more about this powerhouse in our stories and see who came in top 5.

Vote for your fave! Voting is live. Link in bio.

04/11/2026

I WAS SWORN TO SECRECY

And I kept that promise.
Until now.

As America prepares to celebrate 250 years,
a film is about to be released across the nation.

And I was part of it.

A Black woman.

Asked to speak on what this country means to me.
On camera.
On record.
I showed up.
I spoke my truth.

And soon, the whole country will hear it.

04/10/2026

GROWN WOMEN MYSTERY. 🖤

You already know what it means when she goes quiet.

No press. No previews. No explanations.

Just disappeared into her genius and came back and changed everything.

That’s the energy.

That’s the assignment.

That’s what’s happening over here at Ms. Black USA right now.

Wait for the drop. 🔥

Follow us so you don’t miss it. 👀

04/09/2026

THEY TOLD HER SHE WASN’T ENOUGH

But she comes from women who built legacies without permission.

She is Ms. Black USA.
A doctoral student in Family Nursing
A nurse practitioner.
A Black maternal health advocate
A former Albert Schweitzer Fellow
A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
And she comes from royalty.

Her story didn’t begin the day she was crowned.
It didn’t even begin the day she was born.

It began over 2000+ years ago.
The women in her lineage were resilient.
They were craftsmen.
They were leaders.
They were brilliant.

Her roots trace back to Guinea-Bissau.

Through our partnership with African Ancestry, Ms. Black USA will never have to question her worth, her brilliance, or her gifts.

Because the truth is, Black women are often told we are not enough.

But if you ask the women of Guinea-Bissau, they will tell you something different.

They will tell you that we come from strength.
From legacy.

From women who built, led, and carried generations forward without permission.

And that kind of lineage does not disappear.
It lives in you.

Tap in and learn your roots. Know who you come from.

03/01/2026

Thank you phenomenal woman for creating space for Black women.

Before thousands of young women walked into rooms built with intention…

There was a vision.

An NAACP Image Award-winning author, philanthropist, and empowerment expert who believed Black women deserved a platform created for us, by us, not borrowed, not temporary, not waiting for permission.

Karen Arrington, our Founder & CEO built Miss Black USA from that vision.

And because she did, more than $750,000 in scholarships have been awarded, doors have opened across industries, and generations of Black women have stepped into opportunities once considered out of reach.

And every legacy has a first chapter.

Dr. Tamiko Gibson of Maryland, the first woman ever crowned Miss Black USA, set the standard and made history the moment the crown touched her head.

One built the platform.
One began the lineage.

And today, the legacy continues.

Black history isn’t just remembered here.
It’s still being written. 👑

12/06/2025

🤎👑

09/15/2025

FORMER MS. BLACK USA BOOKED & BUSY IN TYLER PERRY’S “BEAUTY IN BLACK” 🎬👑

✨ Booked. Busy. Unstoppable.

From the Miss Black USA stage to your TV screen, Mercedez McDowell (Ms. Black USA 2018) is making major moves. 💫 You’ve seen her shine in Black-ish and Heels, and now she’s gracing Season 2 of Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black.

Mercedez isn’t just a queen, she’s a classically trained actress (LAMDA 🎭), founder of Flawless Grace, Inc., and proof that the Miss Black USA legacy is about more than crowns. It’s about doors opening, dreams unfolding, and Black women rewriting the script in Hollywood and beyond.

Drop a 👏🏾 for Mercedez. The legacy lives on.