She’s your queen to be!
A Ghanaian-America model makes history as the first Black Miss Grand International, Bossip reports.
Abena Akuaba Appiah is a singer, songwriter, pageant Queen and model who made history as the first Black Miss Grand International. The 27-year-old is no stranger to firsts, previously becoming Miss Earth Ghana. Not only is she the first Black woman to hold the Miss Grand International title, but she is also the first United States Queen to be awarded the honor.
Abena captured judges with her beauty on stage, donning bright, colorful gowns while rocking her natural tresses. During the costume portion of the pageant, she paid honor to Black victims of police brutality, wearing a Black Lives Matter dress with the faces of George Floyd, Tamir Rice, and Philando Castile.
advertisement— Abena Akuaba (@AbenaAkuaba) March 25, 2021
After her victory, Abena continued to shine a light on racial inequality and injustice while highlighting the importance of representation for Black girls in these spaces.
“I accomplished the unthinkable for all the girls that look like me; I want you to know your hair is beautiful, your skin is flawless, and that you should wear all of it with pride and grace. We are enough; we are beautiful; we do not have to fit any beauty standards because we set our own. The first BLACK MGI Queen, the first to bring the golden crown home to the USA, and finally, a dream as a young three-year-old is now a reality,” she wrote.
Congratulations, Abena! Because of you, we can!
Photo Courtesy of @AbenaAkuaba/Instagram