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Holding court

When the hosts announced Sabrina Smith as first runner-up, LaShonda Carter could not believe her ears.

She ran to the back of the stage, cried, jumped around and clasped her hands tightly together.

The crowd was on its feet clapping and loudly voicing its approval. LaShonda Carter had just been named Miss Eboness 2004.

Backstage, the seven other contestants surrounded Carter with hugs and kind words. Genuine good will was seen on each face, and the happiness for Carter's title was apparent on the women's faces.

Second runner-up Katrina Gray was all smiles in the backstage dressing room.

"LaShonda is such a beautiful person. She deserves it." Gray said. "She deserves anything great that happens to her."

Gray said the Miss Eboness pageant breaks any misconceptions people may have about pageants.

"We are all so close despite anybody making it further than anybody else," she said. "Everyone is so excited for each other, that's what happens with sisterhood.

"You never see jealousy, and you're never selfish. You can only want someone else to do what you might not be able to do, and I think it's great."

This year's contestants impressed Natasha Jackson, who won the Miss Eboness 2003 crown. Jackson said the closeness of these women made her happy to see that the pageant is going in the right direction. Jackson said the girls worked very hard but still were able to have fun.

"This year's pageant was an excellent turnout, because it was the true meaning of Eboness, which is sisterhood." Jackson said.

Jackson said she believed Carter will make an excellent Miss Eboness because of her true character and her belief in God.

"LaShonda wasn't in this for fame or fashion," she said. "She was in this for our sisters, and she will be a wonderful Miss Eboness."

Carter is a graduate student in workforce education and is from the south suburbs of Chicago. Carter confided that she wanted to audition for the Miss Eboness pageant before this year but could not bring herself to try out.

"I didn't know who I was as a woman, and I couldn't be Miss Eboness if I didn't know," she said. "I've been here since 1998 and I finally had the guts to do it.

"Now I know who I am, and I'm still learning more about myself everyday."

Carter said she was thanking God throughout the show for giving her this chance to be a part of something special.

"All I wanted was the opportunity to make it," Carter said. "I never thought I was going to make it this far. I thank God and my family and friends."

She said the friendships that she has made throughout this experience would not end here.

"All the girls, they're my family, and they're still going to be my family," she said. "They call me 'momma' because I'm the oldest."

Carter said she believes the relationship the women share is something special and unique.

"It's amazing how we can develop a bond so quick and it's genuine. This is just a stepping stone for us, and just because this pageant is over doesn't mean we're still going to be family."

Carter also said she is blessed for the opportunity to reign as Miss Eboness for a year.

"I think it's an honor, and I'm going to do my best to exemplify Miss Eboness to the best of all my God-given abilities," she said.

 

 

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