By Sarah Dale
16 April 2024
Taste of Africa North East launched the pageant in 2022
A beauty pageant to celebrate and empower young Black women has opened this year’s applications.
Miss Black History North East was launched by the charity, Taste of Africa North East, in 2022. The theme of the pageant is ‘More than the face’ as it is judged on criteria including what Black History means to applicants, how community-driven they are and what positive change they could bring to the role.
Last year’s winner was Oluwaseun Akinola Esther, a make-up artist and digital content creator living in Middlesbrough. Since she was crowned, Oluwaseun has been a valuable ambassador for Taste of Africa North East.
Miss Black History North East chief executive Vaina Lumbiwa said: “Miss Black History North East gives young Black women a platform to mould them to be whoever they want to be.
“It’s been fantastic working with the Queens and watching them grow in confidence. Our first Queen – Chikomborero Manoah – is a spoken word performer and watching how confident she has become performing has been amazing to watch.
“Our reigning Queen, Oluwaseun, has always been confident but the experience has opened doors for new things for her. She is a content creator and her personal brand has grown; she now has 10,000 followers on Instagram (@thatflawlesschic). She has worked with us as a coordinator and admin for the charity’s Black Creatives and Arts Network (BCAN), attends all Taste of Africa events and has been very proactive in her role.
“Miss Black History North East is still in its infancy but it’s going very well.”
Originally from Zimbabwe, Vaina regularly took part in beauty pageants from the age of seven upwards. When she moved to the UK 10 years ago to study tourism and hospitality management at Newcastle University, she was keen to continue her passion for pageants.
“I lived in Newcastle and I looked for a pageant where I could fit as a young Black woman but the only ones I could find were in the south,” says Vaina, 31.
“It never made sense to me. I was in uni and working and travelling up and down to pageants. I was passionate about it but in the end, I had to let that dream go. I wanted to create a pageant for women like myself.
“Miss Black History North East means so much to me. We’re celebrating young Black women which is very close to my heart as we’re giving these young women a platform to shine. We want them to shine and grow. We want them to know that they are ‘more than a face’; entrants don’t have to have a certain look or be a certain size. We want to see their authentic selves.
“It’s an opportunity to showcase your talent too – we’ve had poets, filmmakers, cooks – lots of different creative talents.”
Vaina loves her role and has taken all the Queens (winners and finalists) under her wing.
“The girls call me Queen Mother,” she says. “I always look out for them and I’m very protective of them.”
The Miss Black History North East final will take place on Saturday 28th September at the Leonardo Hotel in Middlesbrough.
The black-tie event includes a fashion show, a talent showcase and a Q&A with the judging panel.
The winner will receive a work placement at Mercedes Benz Teesside, a supporter of Miss Black History Northeast.
Jeremy Simpson, managing director of Mercedes Benz Teesside, said: “We are delighted to be working with Miss Black History North East and adding value to the programme by offering some commercial experience to the winning candidate for 2024. Our own experience working with Vaina and Oluwaseun has been enriching and we very much look forward to working with the next Miss Black History North East.”
The competition is open to young Black women aged between 18 and 30 living in the North-east. To apply, complete the application form at: https://tasteofafricanortheast.co.uk/miss-black-application/
To find out more about sponsorship opportunities, email: missblackhistory@tasteofafricanortheast.co.uk
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