Milestones

1986

Miss Black USA Pageant is founded by Karen Arrington

1987

The first Miss Black USA Pageant is held in Washington, DC.

1989

Granted 501(c)3 tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service

1990

The first full tuition scholarship is awarded. The winner received a full four year scholarship to Miles College and a fully furnished apartment.

1994

Miss Black USA 1994 Tours Rio & Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

1995

Miss Black USA 1995 Tours Johannesburg, South Africa

2003

Miss Black USA 2003 Pageant is outsourced and licensed to Independent Company

2005

Miss Black USA Partners with Bally Total Fitness
Miss Black USA is New Face of Flori Roberts Cosmetics

2006

Miss Black USA organization partners with the American Diabetes Association

2007

The Pageant is held outside the U.S. for the very first time (The Gambia, West Africa)
Over $300,000 awarded in Scholarships
New Teen Division Announced: “Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2009”
Debra Carr, Miss Black USA National Advisory Board Member named President of Miss Black USA Talented Teen 2009
Miss Black USA Becomes National Spokesperson for American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Cultural Competency Campaign
Miss Black USA Becomes Celebrity Advocate for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Miss Black USA appears on Good Morning America Now

2008

Miss Black USA Partners with the Heart Truth CampaignTM The Heart Truth and Red Dress are trademarks of the DHHS

2009

Miss Black USA Pageant partners with Dr. Ian Smith and the 50 Million Pound Challenge to fight obesity in the African American community.

2010

Connecticut is the first state to have two winners crowned "Miss Black USA"
Osas Ighodaro, Miss Black USA 2010 is the first Nigerian American to capture the Miss Black USA Crown
Shawnta Watson-Wolcott Receives the first ever Miss Black USA Legacy Award