WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Miss Black Texas, Oceilia Gibson, from Dallas, TX was crowned Miss Black USA 2011 on Monday, August 8, 2011 at the Historic Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC. Calgon, the Presenting Sponsor of the event presented the winner with keys to a brand new car. Fifty of the most beautiful women in the nation competed for more than $20,000 in scholarships and prizes. The theme of this year’s event is “Shades of Africa” celebrating the diversity of Black women in America.
Miss Gibson holds a Bachelors of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and is currently pursuing a Masters of Art in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The 26-year old is a role model for young women across the country. Ms. Gibson is a role model for all young women by being a minister, urban etiquette coach, junior debutante coordinator, certified abstinence educator, STD awareness specialist, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship’s Public School Coordinator, and founder of More Than a Pretty Face, Inc. Earning numerous awards and recognition, Gibson was one of Ebony magazine's Unsung Heroes in 2009.
The event was hosted by comedian Gregory Poole and Deya Smith, Miss Black USA 1994, and featured 15 finalists.
All contestants competed in four areas of competition: Fitness Attire, Talent, Evening Gown and Onstage Question and Answer. The contestants were judged by a Celebrity Panel of Judges which included Roger Bobb, Producer (Bobcatt Films); Demetria McKinney (Actress, House of Payne), Crystal Langhorne, Washington Mystics (WNBA); Edwin Avent, Publisher (Heart & Soul magazine); b michael America (Celebrity Fashion Designer), John Blassingame (Publisher, Today’s Black Man) and Kalilah Allen-Harris, M.D., Former Miss Black USA 2007.
The top five finalists were: Miss Black Delaware (4th Runner Up); Miss Black Pennsylvania (3rd Runner Up); Miss Black Alabama (2nd Runner Up); Miss Black New Jersey (1st Runner Up) and Miss Black Texas (Winner) and the first Texas to capture the national title in the pageants 24-year history.
Sponsors of the event include Calgon, Tyler Perry Studios, VIP Smiles, b michael America, New York Conservatory, School for Television and Film and Heart & Soul magazine
ABOUT MISS BLACK USA PAGEANT:
The Miss Black USA Pageant and Scholarship Foundation®, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3, founded in 1986 by Karen Arrington to provide educational opportunities to outstanding young women of color. For more info: www.missblackusa.org or contact Joelle Polisky at joelle.polisky@missblackusa.org or (615) 516-0358.
ABOUT CALGON:
Calgon is a complete line of bath and beauty products managed by Ilex Consumer Products Group. The Calgon brand launched in 1946 and in the 1960s became famous with their iconic tagline “Take Me Away!” which has become a widely known pop culture reference. In 2010, Calgon re-launched with 30 new products in the marketplace, giving the Calgon brand the widest range of specialty bath and basic bath products in the category. In June 2011, the brand introduced Ageless Bath and the Calgon Sensual Collection to its line. Calgon is sold at Walmart, Rite Aid, Dollar General, Kmart, Target and Kroger among other national retailers. Calgon products can also be found online at http://www.takemeaway.com.
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