Three Hamptonians are Winners in Miss Black VA USA

Hampton, VA -Two Hampton University students and one alumna were winners in the district level of the Miss Black Virginia USA Scholarship Pageant in Chesapeake, Va. this month.

As a result of the district competition, Jocelyn Watkins was named Miss Black Hampton, Va., Whytnee Foriest was named Miss Black Portsmouth, Va., and Regina Hewlett was named Miss Black Richmond, Va.

Watkins and Foriest were crowned winners and Hewlett was a first runner up. The competition operated using a double tier structure. Eight contestants participated in the pageant, producing two winners and two first runners up. All contestants were judged by the following categories:  a private interview, on-stage question and answer, personal fitness, talent and evening gown.

All three Hamptonians will participate in the state competition Nov 24-29 in Danville, Va. Watkins and Foriest won a $550 waiver to the state competition and Hewlett was given $350 toward the competition.

Hewlett, 26, graduated in 2005 from HU with a psychology degree, and in 2006 with a master’s degree in teaching. She currently works as a second grade teacher in Richmond, Va.

“Placing in my very first pageant was so surreal! I never imagined I would place at all. In the state competition, I am looking forward to stepping my game up,” she said “I am almost at the max age for competing so I have to give it all I've got this time around.  It's all or nothing for me!”

Watkins, 19, is a psychology major at HU. Her goal is to become a practicing criminal justice prosecuting attorney. Foriest, 19, is a Sociology major from Bowie, Md.

This pageant has been around for 21 years, said Christopher Medley, its executive director and owner of House of L, the events production company that produces the event. The pageant’s motto is "Crown For One, Experience For All.”

“It is my goal that each contestant will see beyond the crown and realize their full potential as a woman of color to make change in their community and across the Commonwealth,” Medley said. “The three women from Hampton University definitely shared a common bond together, but they also worked toward reaching out to their fellow pageant sisters and sharing their experiences with pageants.”