Nia Franklin

Last updated
Nia Franklin
2018 Military Bowl - Nia Franklin.jpg
Franklin at the 2018 Military Bowl
Born
Nia Imani Franklin

(1993-07-27) July 27, 1993 (age 31)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Education East Carolina University (BM)
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (MM)
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
TitleMiss Five Boroughs 2018
Miss New York 2018
Miss America 2019
TermSeptember 9, 2018 – December 19, 2019
Predecessor Cara Mund
Successor Camille Schrier

Nia Imani Franklin (born July 27, 1993) is an American composer and beauty pageant titleholder. In June 2018, she was crowned Miss New York 2018. [1] On September 9, 2018, she was crowned Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, by the outgoing Miss America 2018, Cara Mund. [2]

Contents

With her win, 2019 became the first year that all four major United States–based pageants were won by black women; other titleholders were Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa (as Miss Universe 2019), Kaliegh Garris (as Miss Teen USA 2019), and Cheslie Kryst (as Miss USA 2019). [3] [4] [5] [6]

Early life and education

Franklin was born on July 27, 1993. She is the oldest daughter born to James and Kristy Franklin. [7] She has two younger siblings; a sister, Bailey, and brother, J.D. [8]

Franklin graduated from North Davidson High School in Welcome, North Carolina, in 2011. She then attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, and graduated with a degree in music composition in 2015. [8] During her freshman year at East Carolina University, Franklin's father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. [7] [9] Years later, her father relapsed twice and required a stem cell transplant. [10] Franklin was found to be a match and then donated her stem cells, ultimately leading to her father's remission. [9] [10]

After graduating from East Carolina, she attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and earned her Master of Music in 2017 also in music composition. [8] She composed a chamber opera titled King Solomon that premiered in 2015. [11] Franklin moved to New York City after being selected as a 2017 William R. Kenan Jr. fellow with the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' education division. [12] [13]

Philanthropy and social activism

As a student at UNCSA, Franklin was a member of ArtistCorps, an AmeriCorps program that invites well-known artists into public schools and community centers to work with students with decreased access to arts programming. [10] [14] After relocating to New York, Franklin worked closely with Success Academy Charter Schools, founding a music club for students, and served as a cultural partner with the NYC-based non-profit organization, Sing For Hope. [13] [15]

Pageantry

Early pageantry

While a student at East Carolina University, Franklin was crowned Miss Black and Gold at a scholarship pageant sponsored by the university's Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. [7] She also competed in the Miss North Carolina organization in 2016 and 2017. [14] At both competitions, Franklin placed among the top 10 finalists and won the preliminary talent award. [16]

Miss New York 2018

In June 2018, Franklin competed as Miss Five Boroughs 2018 at the Miss New York 2018 pageant. [17] She went on to win both talent and swimsuit preliminary awards, as well as the overall interview award. Ultimately, she was crowned Miss New York 2018 on June 30, 2018, at Shea's Theatre in Buffalo, New York. [13] [17]

Miss America 2019

Franklin represented New York at the Miss America 2019 competition held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 9, 2018, with a platform of "Advocating for the Arts." [1]

For the talent portion, she sang "Quando m'en vò" from the opera La bohème . [18] [19] In the final round of the competition, Franklin was asked how being Miss New York prepared her for her being Miss America by judge Laila Ali. In the allotted 20 seconds, she told about how she had to move many times in New York and deal with high rent, and how she had to work hard in her life. She said, "I have New York grit. ... I came up on a Lincoln Center fellowship because I'm an artist, and I'm really excited to just share my platform my social impact advocating for the arts and make sure all students have access to a quality education.". [19]

She bested first runner-up, Miss Connecticut 2018, Bridget Oei, for the 2019 Miss America title and was crowned by Miss America 2018, Cara Mund, on September 9, 2018. [20] Along with the title of Miss America, Franklin also won a $50,000 scholarship. Franklin is the seventh Miss New York to win the Miss America title.

Related Research Articles

The Miss Nevada USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Nevada in the Miss USA pageant.

The Miss Florida competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Florida in the Miss America pageant. Florida has twice won the Miss America crown.

The Miss New York scholarship competition selects the representative for the state of New York in the Miss America scholarship competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Massachusetts</span> Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Massachusetts competition is a scholarship pageant put on annually by the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Foundation, Inc. The winner of the pageant receives the title of Miss Massachusetts and represents the state of Massachusetts at the Miss America pageant.

The most frequently presented Miss America awards are for preliminary talent and swimsuit. The talent award was introduced in 1936, and the swimsuit award in 1940. In the 2000s, preliminary awards for evening gown and interview were briefly introduced but were discontinued after two years as it was felt that they made the semi-finalists too predictable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamie Crawford</span> American TV host and pageant queen (born 1992)

Kameran "Kamie" Crawford is an American television and podcast host, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and former beauty queen who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2010 on July 24, 2010 at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas. Crawford was the co-host of Catfish: The TV Show until 2024. She also hosted season 9 of Are You the One? on Paramount+ and season 6 of MTV's Ex On The Beach as well as her own relationship advice podcast, Relationsh*t.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alyssa Campanella</span> American model (born 1990)

Alyssa Marie Campanella is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2011. Having previously been crowned Miss California USA 2011. Campanella was also crowned Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007 and was first runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2007. Campanella was the sixth woman representing California to win the Miss USA title. As Miss USA, Campanella represented the United States at Miss Universe 2011, where she reached the Top 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nia Sanchez</span> American beauty pageant contestant

Nia Temple Booko is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2014. Sanchez represented the United States at Miss Universe 2014, where finished as first runner-up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss America 2019</span> 92nd edition of the Miss America competition

Miss America 2019, the 92nd Miss America pageant, though the Miss America Organization celebrated its 98th anniversary in 2018. This discrepancy is due to national pageants not being held from 1928 to 1932 or in 1934 because of financial problems associated with the Great Depression. The 2019 competition was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. On May 23, 2018, it was announced that the pageant would air live on ABC on Sunday, September 9, 2018. This was the last Miss America to be aired on ABC before it was moved to NBC beginning from the 2020 pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Rose Summers</span> American beauty pageant titleholder

Sarah Rose Summers Combs is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2018. As Miss USA, she represented the United States at Miss Universe 2018, where she reached the top 20. Previously, Summers won Miss Nebraska USA 2018 and went on to become the first woman from Nebraska to win the Miss USA title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 2019</span> 68th Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 2019 was the 68th Miss USA pageant, held at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada on May 2, 2019. The 2019 competition served as the second consecutive time that the pageant has been held concurrently with the Miss Teen USA competition. This was also the final pageant where it was televised on Fox.

Miss Teen USA 2019 was the 37th Miss Teen USA pageant. It was held at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, on April 28, 2019, and was hosted by Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez and Tim Tialdo. Hailey Colborn of Kansas crowned her successor Kaliegh Garris of Connecticut at the end of the event. This was the first time in the history of Miss Teen USA winning back-to-back titles by African Americans.

Caelynn Marie Bell is an American TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder. Miller-Keyes received national recognition after appearing as a contestant on season 23 of The Bachelor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaliegh Garris</span> American model and beauty pageant contestant

Kaliegh Garris is an American TV host, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2019. Garris had previously been crowned Miss Connecticut Teen USA 2019; she is the second entrant from Connecticut to have been crowned Miss Teen USA, following Logan West who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheslie Kryst</span> American television correspondent, model, Miss USA 2019 (1991–2022)

Cheslie Corrinne Kryst was an American television correspondent, model, and beauty pageant titleholder. She was also an attorney and a correspondent for the TV show Extra from October 2019 until her death. For her work on Extra, she was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards. As Miss USA 2019, Kryst represented the United States at Miss Universe 2019 where she reached the Top 10. She was the third woman from North Carolina to win Miss USA.

Miss USA 2020 was the 69th Miss USA pageant. It was held at the Exhibition Centre and the Soundstage at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 9, 2020. Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and Allie LaForce served as hosts, while Cheslie Kryst and Christian Murphy served as backstage commentators, and Haley Reinhart performed. Cheslie Kryst of North Carolina crowned Asya Branch of Mississippi as her successor at the end of the event. Branch is the second consecutive African American to win the title, and the fourth one in five years. This is Mississippi's first win at the Miss USA pageant. Branch represented the United States at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant and placed in the Top 21.

Miss Teen USA 2020 was the 38th Miss Teen USA pageant. Originally scheduled to be held in spring 2020, the competition was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was later rescheduled for November 7, 2020, at the Exhibition Centre and the Soundstage at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Kaliegh Garris of Connecticut crowned Ki'ilani Arruda of Hawaii as her successor at the end of the event. The competition was hosted by Allie LaForce and Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zozibini Tunzi</span> South African beauty queen, Miss Universe 2019 winner

Zozibini "Zozi" Tunzi .is a South African model, actress, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 2019. Tunzi had previously been crowned Miss South Africa 2019. She is the third woman from South Africa and the first black South African woman to win the title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2023</span>

Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2023 was the sixteenth Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant, held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas in Dallas, Texas, on August 12, 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 Rees, Alex (September 9, 2018). "Miss New York, Nia Franklin, Wins Miss America 2019". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  2. ↑ Stone, Natalie (September 9, 2018). "Miss New York Nia Imani Franklin Crowned Miss America 2019". People. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  3. ↑ Harmata, Claudia (December 10, 2019). "Making History: Current Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, Miss Teen USA Are All Black Women". People . Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  4. ↑ Ruiz-Grossman, Sarah (May 3, 2019). "Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America Are All Black Women For First Time In Pageant History". Huffington Post.
  5. ↑ Peck, Patrice (May 3, 2019). "Miss America, Miss USA, And Miss Teen USA Are All Black Women, And I'm All Like "OKAY LADIES, NOW LET'S GET IN FORMATION!"". Buzzfeed.
  6. ↑ Diaz, Thatiana (May 3, 2019). "3 Black Women Just Made Pageant History — & The Internet Is Celebrating". Refinery29.
  7. 1 2 3 Herron, Arika (June 18, 2016). "Winston-Salem native to compete in Miss North Carolina pageant". Winston-Salem Journal.
  8. 1 2 3 Serpico, Erin (September 8, 2018). "Miss New York crowned Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City". Press of Atlantic City.
  9. 1 2 Rogo, Paula (September 10, 2018). "5 Things To Know About 2019 Miss America Winner Nia Imani Franklin". Essence.
  10. 1 2 3 Perry, Wayne (September 10, 2018). "Former county resident wins Miss America title". The-Dispatch.
  11. ↑ Rose, Patrick F. (April 24, 2015). "Honored and excited to be a part of this! If you're not doing anything tonight, stop by the recital hall tonight at 8:30 pm to see Nia Imani Franklin's senior composition recital, which will feature the World Premiere of her entirely original chamber opera, "King Solomon!" Come out to support the performers, and most importantly, Nia and the bright future ahead of her!". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
  12. ↑ "2017 Kenan Institute fellowship and internship award recipients". Thomas S. Kenan Institute of the Arts.
  13. 1 2 3 Benanti, Carol Ann (July 6, 2018). "ICYMI: Miss Five Boroughs crowned Miss New York at state pageant". SI Live.
  14. 1 2 Whitaker, Lauren (September 4, 2018). "Alumna to compete for Miss America crown on Sunday". UNSCA.
  15. ↑ Charles, Marissa (September 9, 2018). "Nia Imani Franklin: 5 Things To Know About The Winner Of Miss America 2019". HollywoodLife.
  16. ↑ Vick, Thomas (June 25, 2016). "McKenzie Faggart Crowned Miss NC 2016". Goldsboro Daily News.
  17. 1 2 "Winston-Salem native wins Miss New York". Winston-Salem Journal. June 30, 2018.
  18. ↑ Drabble, Jenny (September 9, 2018). "Winston-Salem native Nia Franklin wins Miss America pageant". Winston-Salem Journal.
  19. 1 2 Jensen, Erin (September 9, 2018). "Miss America 2019: Miss New York Nia Franklin is crowned the winner". USA TODAY.
  20. ↑ Melas, Chloe (September 10, 2018). "Miss America 2019 is Nia Franklin". CNN .
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss America
2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Gabrielle Walter
 Miss New York
2018		Succeeded by
Rahmeka Cox
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.