Image

6:38 PM / Tuesday February 18, 2025

21 May 2021

After making history, Miss USA competing for Miss Universe

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
May 21, 2021 Category: Entertainment Posted by:

ABOVE PHOTO: Miss USA Asya Branch of Booneville, Miss. waves to fans as she gets a welcome home parade through downtown Booneville Friday, April 23, 2021. (Thomas Wells/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

JACKSON, Miss. — Asya Branch, the first Black Miss Mississippi to win Miss USA, will compete for the title of Miss Universe on Sunday.

The 69th Miss Universe competition will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Hollywood, Florida. The event will air live on FOX beginning at 7 p.m. central.

The Clarion Ledger reports that Branch, a Booneville native, made history in November by being the first Mississippi representative to win Miss USA. She was also the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Mississippi USA in 2019.

“I was so honored to have made history, but at the same time, I thought, ‘Wow … we’re still having firsts,’” Branch told the newspaper.

Branch, who also represented Mississippi in the separate Miss America pageant in 2018, has used the platform to talk about criminal justice reform. The issue is personal to her. Branch’s father served a 10-year prison sentence that forced him to be away from his family while Branch was growing up.

“It’s really an honor to be able to set this example for young girls to know that they don’t have to look like the person that came before them in order to accomplish their goal,” she said.

Branch will compete against 89 other hopefuls in this year’s competition. In 2019, Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi, was named the winner. The 2020 competition was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

If Branch wins, she would be the first Mississippi native to ever hold the title and the first Miss USA to win the competition since 2012.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Leave a Comment

Recent News

Color Of Money

Pennsylvania governor seeks more money for schools and transit, but relies heavily on surplus cash

February 10, 2025

Share Tweet Email Governor Josh Shapiro presents his 2025-26 budget proposal to the Pa. General Assembly, as...

Seniors

How Type 2 inflammation contributes to asthma, COPD, and allergic conditions

February 3, 2025

Share Tweet Email BPT Do you live with persistent, moderate-to-severe asthma, COPD, allergies, eczema or hives? Inflammation...

SUNrise

cj speaks…Celebrating in forgiveness for Black History Month

February 10, 2025

Share Tweet Email By cj “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and...

Week In Review

NFL- Super Bowl LIX pop-up shops showcase fashion for Philadelphia Eagles fans and highlight Black designers in New Orleans

February 18, 2025

Share Tweet Email Origins: An NFL Collection – Retail Pop-up for Super Bowl LIXPhoto credit: Shara Talia...

Commentary

Guest Commentary: The ball’s in our court — who will lead?

February 16, 2025

Share Tweet Email Community advocates and Black Lives Matter advocates gather for a news conference outside Target...

Health

What you need to know about glaucoma

February 10, 2025

Share Tweet Email FAMILY FEATURES More than 4.2 million Americans live with glaucoma, a leading cause of...

The Philadelphia Sunday Sun Staff