Krystle Igo-Ogbonna was crowned 2013 Miss Black Minnesota USA on Sunday, November 11, 2012 at the Hopkins Community Center Eisenhower Theater. At the same event, Shamerah Norman was crowned 2013 Miss Black Minnesota USA Talented Teen. Both young women will represent Minnesota at the 2013 Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant.
Krystle is the daughter of Gladys O. Igbo and the late George Ogbonna. She currently resides in St. Paul and works for College Possible Twins as part of her AmeriCorps service term. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in theater arts and communication studies. Krystle’s talent is playing the piano and she will share her gift at the Miss Black USA pageant.
Her platform is “College Possible: making college and college graduation possible for low-income students.” She plans to support her platform by completing her term of service with AmeriCorps and serving her students at Como Park Senior High School, and working in the Miss Black Minnesota USA mentoring program at Cooper High School. She will speak to students about higher education options through college planning workshops in the community.
Miss Black Minnesota USA Talented Teen Shamerah Norman is the daughter of LaToya J. Mitchell and Simon P. Norman. She currently resides in Columbia Heights and attends St. Anthony Village High School. Shamerah’s talent is Praise Dancing and she will bless the state of Minnesota and the national Miss Black USA Scholarship pageant with her great gift.
Her platform is “Talking with Teens: helping young girls become ladies.” She plans to support her platform by volunteering in the community to speak to young girls about what it means to be a lady and model that behavior each day herself. She plans to speak to students in schools, churches, and community events about not being afraid to have good standards, aiming to improve themselves, and having high self-esteem.
Shamerah is also an avid soccer player and believes playing sports is a part of good growth. She also supports the importance of young education, leadership and finding additional positive opportunities for young teens to stay focused and out of trouble, including the Miss Black Minnesota USA weekend Youth Development Program.
Both Shamerah and Krystle want to be positive role models for women of color in Minnesota, help their platforms grow in Minnesota and across the country, and support the Heart Truth Campaign.
For more information about the Miss Black Minnesota USA and Miss Black USA pageants, call 612-562-6257 or go to www.missblackminnesota.org.
This information was provided by the Miss Black Minnesota USA Program.
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