By Nicholas Ibarra | OBSERVER Staff Writer
Two Sacramento royalty were crowned in the 52nd annual Miss Black Sacramento Scholarship Pageant on Nov. 13.
Mckynz Jackson Coel became Miss Black Sacramento and Navaeh Richards Miss Black Teen Sacramento. Coel, 20, is a 2020 graduate of Pleasant Grove High School, where she served as captain of the cheer team and board member of the Black Student Union. She attends Sacramento City College with plans to obtain a certificate as a medical assistant and phlebotomist. Coel was crowned Miss Black Teen Sacramento in 2019.
Richards, 17, a senior at Monterey Trail High School, plans to attend an HBCU and study biology. She then plans to go to medical school and become a dermatologist. Her hobbies include swimming, reading, music appreciation and research.
“We are grateful to Sacramento State University for hosting us in their grand ballroom as we returned for our first live pageant post-pandemic. We are also grateful to the many parents who allowed us to work with their brilliant, delightful and beautiful daughters,” said Angel Stewart, Miss Black Sacramento Pageant director. “This was our 52nd annual event and we truly believe it was better than ever with a roaring crowd of over 300. We look forward to the community getting to know our Miss Black Sacramento queens, princesses and finalists in 2022-2023 as we are out and about in the community. So glad to say that we are back!”
This year’s theme was “A New Dawn! A New Day!”
Judges included Kevin Bracy, Kalkidan Gebreyohannes, Jessica McCall, Greta Wallace, Ryan Royster, Kristyn Marshall-Lee, Valerie Cox, Jamaica Thomas and Barbara Etrick.
Talent judges included Kayla Taylor, Carla Fleming, Tajanell Strawder-Jones, Cynthia Smith, Damond Owens and Andre Thomas.
The pageant was choreographed by Jadell Lee and photographed by Terneicsa “Tee” Fernandes Rushton.
Special guests included saxophonist Ralph Gordon and pianist Joe Archie.
The Miss Black Sacramento Scholarship Pageant was founded in 1970 by the late Velma Stokely-Flournoy and Jimmie Royster. Originally titled “Miss Black Beauty,” the pageant’s mission is to prepare young Black women for success and encourage their academic pursuits.
Today, Stokely-Flournoy’s granddaughter, Angel Stewart, directs the pageant with a host of dedicated volunteers.