Miss Juneteenth 2025 Pageant winner Iman Byrd
Photo courtesy: Napoleon Kingcade
By Napoleon F. Kingcade
As the city gears up for this year’s Juneteenth celebration along 52nd Street in West Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant remained a strong platform for youth empowerment and leadership development as young participants prepared for the annual parade and festival that’s scheduled to kick off near the Mann Music Center, on Sunday, June 22, at 12:30 p.m.
Last Saturday at the National Constitution Center, the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant proudly showcased a number of young individuals who took the stage to display their extraordinary talents. The participants were judged on their poise, personality, stage presence and God-given talent.
The pageant offered scholarship opportunities and gave the young ladies, aged 7-18 years old, an opportunity to embrace their cultural heritage and pursue academic success.
The winners and participants are expected to engage in community projects and events throughout the year. The pageant also served as a platform to honor the Juneteenth celebration and African American achievements. The experience gives young ladies an opportunity to be part of a prestigious pageant that uplifts, educates and helps them work towards a better future.
From left: Junior Miss Juneteenth Pageant winner Keniyah Grey, New Juneteenth King 2025 Ahmir Warrington, Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant winner Iman Byrd, and Little Miss Juneteenth Ava Brown.
Photo courtesy: Napoleon Kingcade
For the first time, in this year’s pageant, there was a crowning of the first Juneteenth King. It was added with the introduction of this year’s eight Juneteenth contestants. Each contestant competed on stage after winning a preliminary competition that took place a few weeks ago. The participants began this year’s event with a dance performance and a musical tribute to the Juneteenth celebration. The contestants also participated in a talent and formal wear competition.
Afterwards, each contestant walked to center stage and answered a Juneteenth-related question. Former WDAS and Power 99 FM radio personality and the President/CEO of 3rd Floor Media Gary Shepherd questioned the contestants as the audience listened closely to their answers.
Miss Juneteenth 2025 Pageant winner Iman Byrd and her mother Mercedes White.
Photo courtesy: Napoleon Kingcade
During the competition, Miss Juneteenth contestant Iman Byrd performed well. The 16-year-old high school student, resides in the Cobbs Creek area, and attends Science Leadership Academy at Beeber in West Philadelphia.
Iman was dressed in a white evening gown when she gave a sharp and witty response about what the history of Juneteenth meant to her. Later, Iman picked up four awards which she won in all four categories. Her mother, Mercedes White, who was sitting in the audience, was so happy when she won the crown as the new Miss Juneteenth of Pennsylvania 2025.
“I’m so proud of Iman, she has accomplished so much during her high school career,” White said. “She has worked so hard for this pageant, especially for it to be a Juneteenth pageant which is important to our West Philadelphia community. Because we live in West Philly, it makes the celebration that more special. We will be out there for Juneteenth and she will be part of the parade. I’m really happy for her. She has made our family so proud. She is really a good girl. She is constantly doing things all around the city. She is so amazing. She continues to do bigger and bigger things. I hope she continues to grow and do more amazing things.”
As a junior at Science Leadership Academy at Beeber, Iman has already completed an internship at KYW News Radio and WHYY Television. She’s the captain of her track team and has won three championship medals this year. Even though she has a desire to become a journalist, Iman said she wants to become a criminal lawyer.
“Right now, it’s hard for me to choose between being a track star and being a journalist, but I would love to become a lawyer and go to law school,” she said. “Right now, I believe I have great things in store for me. I want to achieve great things in my life and I believe I can achieve them. We need more Black female lawyers in the profession. We need more Black representation in the Black community. I believe if I work hard, things will happen on my behalf. I would love to attend Howard University and pursue [becoming] a lawyer.”
Despite Iman achieving many things in her life, her mother has tried to slow down her daily schedule.
“I have actually tried to get her to slow down,” White said. “I can see where she gets her energy. When I was younger, I was very active in high school. I tried to be part of every club and be the president of everything. Whatever my daughter wants to do, I will try to be there to support her. I don’t have to force or push her to do anything. She will do it on her own. Whatever she wants me to do, I will be there to help support her, whatever it is.”
In addition to all the things that Iman is already doing, she is also a participant in the “We Reign” women’s program at Malcolm X Park. She has participated in the program since the eighth grade.
“She does a lot of political activism on behalf of Black women,” White said. “She is constantly doing presentations with different organizations and talks to people in the community. Every day, she’s always doing something in relation to her outreach work. With all the community work that she’s doing, I hope she gets a scholarship. By winning the Juneteenth crown, she already has some scholarship money.”
Little Miss Juneteenth Pageant winner Ava Brown
Photo courtesy: Napoleon Kingcade
Another big winner from West Philadelphia crowned Little Miss Juneteenth of Pennsylvania 2025, was Ava Brown. Ava is the granddaughter of former State Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown. During the pageant, Ava was outstanding in all her categories. The nine-year old winner received a bouquet of roses, a trophy and a scholarship for winning the dance category. In addition to being crowned Little Miss Juneteenth, Ava is also serving as winner of the USA American Miss Pennsylvania Princess. She won that title back in August 2024 at during the competition held at the Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania. By winning that title, she will compete in the Nationals competition which are scheduled in July in Jacksonville, Florida.
For the past two years, Ava has appeared in several fashion shows around the country and has collected a number of awards with her dance team. Last April, she appeared in Al Sharpton’s National Action Network Entertainment Fashion Show held in Harlem, New York. Ava showcased many designers’ creations in the show.
Miss Junior Juneteenth Pageant winner Keniyah Grey
Photo courtesy: Napoleon Kingcade
Joining Ava at the winner’s circle was 12-year-old Keniyah Grey, who was crowned Junior Miss Juneteenth of Pennsylvania 2025. During the pageant, Keniyah put on a show with her impressive dance moves. She impressed the crowd during her performance in the dance category. Her mother, Neeka Dockery, was extremely proud of her performance in the Juneteenth pageant.
“She did it,” Dockery said. “This little girl never ceases to amaze me. No matter what I throw at her, she shows up and shows out. She’s everything that I dreamed she would be and so much more. I will never be able to express with words how lucky I am to be her mother. I will always be her biggest fan. So bear with me as I show my baby lots of love. As her mother, I will never apologize for that.”
From the left: new Juneteenth King, Ahmir Arrington, Miss Juneteenth 2025 Pageant winner Iman Byrd and Gary Shepherd
Photo courtesy: Napoleon Kingcade
To top off the Juneteenth pageant was the crowning of the pageant’s first-ever King. His name is Ahmir Warrington, who will be attending Coppin State University this fall to major in biology. When Warrington was introduced, Gary Shepherd gave him a warm tribute.
“I know you are the first, so when the first sets out, you have paved the way for others to follow behind you,” Shepherd said. “It’s really important that our young brothers, younger than you, see that you stepped up and took up the task and took up the responsibility and we want you to know we are all proud of that.”
At that moment, the audience gave Warrington a thundering ovation. Pageant Chief Operating Officer Helen Salahuddin presented Warrington with a scholarship and a list of other valuable prizes.
Helen Salahuddin
Photo courtesy: Napoleon Kingcade
Sonni King, executive producer of the Juneteenth Parade and Festival, thanked everyone for coming out to the National Constitution Center and offering their support.
Juneteenth — which is also known as Emancipation Day and Juneteenth National Freedom Day in Pennsylvania — is celebrated each year on June 19. This commemoration has been recognized as a federal holiday since 2019.
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