Black Beauty Queens

Beautiful women of color who rule the pageantry world.

Angolan Beauty Crowned Miss Universe - Former Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was crowned Miss Universe in Tuesday’s competition held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, beating out finalists from Ukraine, Philippines, China and Brazil.(Photo: AP/Andre Penner)

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Leila Lopes, 2011, Miss Universe - Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes of Angola, handed over her crown to Olivia Culpo of USA, the winner of Miss Universe 2012. Only four Black women have been crowned Miss Universe and Lopes was the fourth. See other photos of the beautiful women who added color to the world of pageants.(Photo: AP Photo/Andre Penner) 

Vanessa Williams - On September 17, 1983, Vanessa Williams broke color barriers and made history by becoming the first black Miss America. Upon winning, Williams faced a swarm of hate mail and racist comments. "I never imagined I'd be that depressed about being Miss America," Williams said. But the drama didn't stop there. Williams's reign ended early due to nude photos published of her in Penthouse magazine. But she rebounded with confidence and went on to have a career in films, television and music that is going strong to this day.(Photo: NBCU Photo Bank)

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Vanessa Williams, 1984, Miss America - The actress-singer was the first Black woman to win the Miss America pageant, but was forced to resign after a nude photo scandal.  (Photo: NBCU Photo Bank)

Janelle Commissiong, Miss Universe 1977 - Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago was the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Universe.(Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

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Janelle Commissiong, 1977, Miss Universe - Jannelle Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago made history by becoming the first Black woman to win the Miss Universe crown. (Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

Suzette Charles, 1984, Miss America - Runner-up Suzette Charles took over the Miss America title after Williams turned in her crown.  (Photo: Tribune/Getty Images) 

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Suzette Charles, 1984, Miss America - Runner-up Suzette Charles took over the Miss America title after Williams turned in her crown.  (Photo: Tribune/Getty Images) 

#BowDown - Her first crown was bestowed upon her when she was named prom queen in high school. The second was given to her when she won the Miss Teen All-American Pageant, in which she represented her home state of Ohio. After that, she was the first runner-up in the Miss U.S.A. Pageant back in 1986. (Photo: WENN)

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Halle Berry, 1986, Miss USA Runner-Up - The actress was Miss Ohio in 1986 and then went on to become the first runner-up for Miss USA.   (Photo: WENN) 

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Carole Anne-Marie Gist, Miss USA 1990 - Gist was the first African-American woman to with the Miss USA competition. (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images)

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Carole Anne-Marie Gist, 1990, Miss USA - Carole Anne-Marie Gist was the first African-American woman to win the Miss USA title.  (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images) 

Debbye Turner, 1990, Miss America - Turner, who won Miss Missouri and Miss America in 1990, later went on to become a reporter for The Early Show on CBS.  (Photo: Courtesy of Debbye Turner) 

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Debbye Turner, 1990, Miss America - Turner, who won Miss Missouri and Miss America in 1990, later went on to become a reporter for The Early Show on CBS.  (Photo: Courtesy of Debbye Turner) 

Marjorie Vincent, Miss America 1991 - Vincent, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, won the title in 1991 after wowing the judges by playing a classical piano selection.(Photo: Everett Collection)

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Marjorie Vincent, 1991, Miss America - Marjorie Vincent played classical music on the piano during the talent portion of the Miss America pageant in 1991.   (Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection) 

Kenya Moore, Miss USA 1993 - After winning in 1993, Detroit native Moore has gone on to become a successful actress and model.(Photo: Everett Collection)

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Kenya Moore, 1993, Miss USA - Kenya Moore, who shot to fame after winning the Miss USA crown in 1993, is the newest cast member of Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta. The Detroit-native has parlayed her beauty for several gigs in acting and modeling. (Photo: Everett Collection / Everett Collection) 

Kimberly Aiken, Miss America 1994 - The South Carolina native used her platform to advocate on behalf of the homeless.(Photo: TIM CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

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Kimberly Aiken, 1994, Miss America - Kimberly Aiken of South Carolina advocated for the homeless during her reign as Miss America at only 18 years old.  (Photo: TIM CLARY/AFP/Getty Images) 

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Wendy Fitzwilliam, Miss Universe 1998 - Fitzwilliam was the second woman from Trinidad and Tobago to snag the crown.(Photo: HO Old/Reuters)

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Wendy Fitzwilliam, 1998, Miss Universe - Fitzwilliam won over the judges and showed the world that Trini women are a force to be reckoned with by becoming the second winner from the island. (Photo: HO Old / Reuters) 

Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 - Hailing from Botswana, Kwelagobe used her crown to advocate for human rights and in 2000 was named a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.(Photo: Getty Images)

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Mpule Kwelagobe, 1999, Miss Universe - The beauty from Botswana dedicated her time as queen fighting for human rights. She went to become a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador in 2000.(Photo: Getty Images) 

Lynnette Cole, 2000, Miss USA - Lynnette Cole was not only the first woman from Tennessee to win the Miss USA pageant, but also Miss Tennessee Teen USA in 1995 and placed in top five for Miss Universe.  (Photo: PP/SV/CC)

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Lynnette Cole, 2000, Miss USA - Lynnette Cole was not only the first woman from Tennessee to win the Miss USA pageant, but also Miss Tennessee Teen USA in 1995 and placed in top five for Miss Universe.  (Photo: PP/SV/CC)

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Shauntay Hinton, 2002, Miss USA - Shauntay Hinton nabbed the USA crown in 2002 after winning Miss DC. The pageant marked the first time that four out of the five finalists were African-American. (Photo: Jose Jimenez/Primera Hora/Getty Images) 

Erika Harold, Miss America 2003 - The Illinois native took the crown in 2003.(Photo: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

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Erika Harold, 2003, Miss America - Erika Harold won the 2003 Miss America title after being selected Miss Illinois in 2002. Her official platform was "Preventing Youth Violence and Bullying: Protect Yourself, Respect Yourself." (Photo: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images) 

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Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 2004 - Before winning the prestigious title in 2004, Dunlap was the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss Florida.(Photo: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

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Ericka Dunlap, 2004, Miss America - Dunlap was named Miss Florida 2003 and subsequently crowned Miss America 2004. She was the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Florida. (Photo: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images) 

Crystle Stewart Miss USA 2008 - Hailing from Missouri City, Texas, Stewart claimed the title in 2008.(Photo: REUTERS/Steve Marcus)

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Crystle Stewart, 2008, Miss USA - Stewart currently stars as Leslie, a well-off real estate agent, on the TBS comedy television series Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse. She represented Texas in the Miss USA 2008 pageant.  (Photo: REUTERS/Steve Marcus) 

Caressa Cameron, 2010, Miss America - Cameron won the Miss America pageant in 2010, becoming the third Miss Virginia to win, and the eighth Black woman to hold the prestigious title. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Planet Hollywood) 

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Caressa Cameron, 2010, Miss America - Cameron won the Miss America pageant in 2010, becoming the third Miss Virginia to win, and the eighth Black woman to hold the prestigious title. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Planet Hollywood)