FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miss Black Ohio 2009 Winners Announced

Columbus, Ohio (September 1, 2008) - The 2009 Miss Black Ohio USA Scholarship Pageant was held in Columbus, Ohio on August 17 at the Columbus Performing Arts Center.   The 2008 Winners are:

Whitney Gaskins  (Miss Black Greater Cincinnati) - Miss Black Ohio USA 2009

Amy Allen (Miss Black Southern Ohio) - 1st Runner-Up to Miss Black Ohio USA 2009

Brittany Browne (Miss Black Franklin County) - 2nd Runner-up to Miss Black Ohio USA 2009

Cherelle Hines (Miss Black Columbus Talented Teen) - Miss Black Ohio USA Talented Teen 2009

Jamila Allen (Miss Black Westerville Talented Teen) - 1st Runner-Up to Miss Black Ohio USA Talented Teen 2009

Miss Browne and Miss Hines were selected as "Miss Congeniality" and were presented with the Pageantry Spirit Award.  Miss Allen and Miss Nekima Hill (Miss Black Cleveland) won the Photogenic Award.   Miss Gaskins, Miss Browne and Miss Hines won 1st Place Talent Awards and Miss Hines and Miss Allen won the Interview Award.   Thanks to the generosity of the United Negro College Fund, Columbus Office, Miss Whitney Gaskins will receive a $1,000 scholarship to the college of her choice and all other delegates will receive $500 scholarships.

Miss Gaskins and Miss Hines will go on to compete for the titles of Miss Black USA 2009 and Miss Black USA Talent Teen at the National Pageants, which are cuirrently scheduled to be held in Las Vegas in June 2009.

The 2010 Miss Black Ohio USA Scholarship Pageant is scheduled to be held at the Columbus Performaing Arts Center, Shedd Theater, in Columbus in August 2009.  The pageant is open to African-American women and teens ages 13 to 27. Areas of competition are interview, talent, fitness, evening gown and onstage question and answer.    According to Vanessa King, Executive Director for the Ohio program, The Miss Black Ohio USA Scholarship Pageant is searching for women who are intelligent, talented, poised, and beautiful. The mission of the Miss Black Ohio USA Pageant is to develop and promote leadership among women in the African-American community. "We provide scholarship opportunities that allow our delegates to pursue and achieve their educational, career, and personal goals", says King. "The organization strives to develop women who are strong, empowered, and educated, and who serve as positive role models to other women of color."

The pageant will again stage both a teen and miss state pageant. Delegates may also compete in one of the local preliminary interview sessions planned for various cities throughout Ohio. Ms. King says, "Participating in a preliminary pageant interview session is not mandatory, but it is a good way to prepare for the state competition, and helps the delegates to understand what areas they need improvement in.  We will select delegates from each peliminary session to go on to compete in the state finals.

The young women selected as Miss Black Ohio USA 2010 and Miss Black Ohio USA Talented Teen 2010 will go on to compete against other state delegates vying for the titles of Miss Black USA 2010 and Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2010. One deserving state winner will be crowned Miss Black USA 2010 and Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2010 at the national competitions.  Miss Black USA and Miss Black USA Talented Teen will receive scholarship money, an array of prizes, and media exposure, with opportunities to speak both in the United States and abroad.

For additional information on how you can become part of this great event, including becoming a delegate, sponsor, advertiser, boar member, volunteer or judge, contact Vanessa King, Executive Director, at 614-586-5715. You can also email Ms. King at missblackohiousa@aol.com or at director@missblackohiousa.org  More information can be obtained by visiting the Miss Black Ohio USA Scholarship Pageant website at www.missblackohiousa.org. The Miss Balck Ohio USA Scholarship Pageant, Inc. is a registered non-profit corporation with the Ohio Secretary of State and the Miss Black USA Pageant and Scholarship Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit corporation, recognized under the 501 (c) 3 code of the Internal Revenue Service.

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