The Grambling State student who was recently crowned Miss Black Oklahoma 2013-14 believes intelligence is more important than beauty.
Ciara Wilson, a sophomore history major who was crowned on July 27., is from Tulsa, Okla. Some of her many hobbies include dancing, reading, and traveling. Adjectives that describe Wilson are driven, dedicated, and talented. Winning Miss Black Oklahoma was a life-changing moment for Wilson.
“In today’s society, it’s not only important to have a degree and further your education, it’s also important to be aware of your surroundings and things occurring in your community,” said Wilson.
Wilson entered her first pageant at the age of 2. She continued to compete in beauty and scholarship pageants throughout her life. Wilson was born a beautiful baby and because of her dedication, she’s grown into a beautiful queen.
“I believe being intelligent and having an education from all aspects is more important than beauty,” Wilson said.
She was motivated to join the Miss Black Oklahoma pageant by her mother, who also competed in the Miss Black Oklahoma pageant years earlier. As Miss Black Tulsa in 1987, Wilson’s mother got second runner up in the Miss Black Oklahoma pageant in the same year.
Since Wilson’s mother was a former queen for the Tulsa, Okla. pageant system, Wilson decided to give the pageant a shot for herself.
“A daughter is a mother’s gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of herself. Mothers are their daughters’ role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships.” Victoria Secunda – an award-winning author and journalist.
Wilson entered the Miss Black Oklahoma pageant on July 22. Throughout her years, she competed in beauty and scholarship pageants but says her education is vital and serves as the universal key.
Wilson has been a part of the Orchesis Dance Company for two years under the direction of Dianne Maroney-Grigsby.
“I was blessed with the talent of dance,” said Wilson. “I use my talent of dance to express both myself and entertain others, whether it be on stage at a pageant or on the field during football games.”
Because of the many days of practice and direction she received from Maroney-Grigsby and other members of the Orchesis Dance Company, Wilson feels the talent portion was her strongest area of the competition because of the effort and time she put into perfecting her talent. The talent area of the competition was also her favorite area of competition.
She felt that the impromptu/on stage question competition was her weakest area of competition because she was nervous. She wasn’t sure what she was going to be asked because she was asked not only in front of the judges, but the entire audience at the pageant.
Despite being nervous during this part in the competition, Wilson believes the most important area of competition in pageants is the interview competition, because it’s the competition that gives the judges the opportunity to get to know all of the contestants on a personal level. The interview competition also makes it easier to determine the best candidate for the title.
When she won the title, Wilson was shocked and it was one of the happiest and most accomplished moments of her life.
Wilson learned leadership and how to embrace her beauty, elegance, personality development, and entrepreneurship.
Wilson says she has all of the resources to put her lessons learned to use for her representation of a Miss Black Oklahoma queen. As a queen, her purpose would be to act as a positive role model.
“I will represent my title by going to community events and speaking about my experience,” she said.
“I was able to gain self-confidence, meet new friends, and realize a pageant is much more than the materialistic things.”
Ten years from now, Ciara Wilson wants to be a defense attorney living in Houston. Although Wilson is Miss Black Oklahoma for the year 2013-2014, she will remain dedicated and carry herself as a queen for the rest of her life.