Asya Branch is the first Black woman from Mississippi to win the Miss USA title.
What We Know:
- The first Miss USA pageant was held in Graceland and the winner is Asya Branch, a marketing major at the University of Mississippi. Her hometown is Booneville, Mississippi which is about 114 miles southeast of Memphis — and about 30 miles north of Tupelo, Mississippi. Not only is she the first Black woman to win the Miss Mississippi USA competition, but she is also the first woman from Mississippi to win. This young lady made history twice in one night.
- According to ABC News, Branch’s historic win comes just one year after Black women made history in the pageant world, sweeping all the top titles. In 2019, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America, Miss Universe, and Miss World crowned Black women as winners at the same time. These historic women were Toni-Ann Singh, who was crowned as Miss World, along with 2019 Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, 2019 Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris, 2019 Miss America Nia Franklin, and 2019 Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi.
- “I couldn’t believe that my name had been called,” Branch said Tuesday on Good Morning America. “I’m the first Miss Mississippi to have been crowned Miss USA and so, honestly I was just honored and overwhelmed and completely overjoyed.”
- Before the competition, she made another statement. “I will continue fighting for criminal justice and prison reform; that’s something that is near and dear to my heart,” Branch said on GMA. “I hope to continue making change within my reign.”
- During the pageant, Branch was asked a question based on the nation’s polarization. Her answer was “We’ve lost trust in the systems that seem to keep our country running, from the media to business to our government. It’s all about restoring that trust and coming together and working together, to heal… If we want to continue to be the greatest nation, we’re going to have to set a better example.”
- This pageant isn’t the first time she had to address serious issues to the public. Back in November 2018, Branch was invited to participate in a “White House Roundtable” meeting on prison reform in Gulfport, Mississippi, where Donald Trump was in attendance
Ms. Asya Branch has made history at only 22 years of age, and there’s no doubt that we’ll be hearing her name again.
