Rachael Malonson, a biracial journalism student, was crowned the winner of Miss Black University of Texas 2017. However, she has faced some backlash from Twitter trolls, as some think that she ‘isn’t black enough.’
The pageant, which is in its 35th year, was hosted by the Iota Delta chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. During the pageant, the contestants danced, sang, acted, shared personal experiences, pitched their platforms, answered questions, and gracefully walked across the stage in heels and gowns.
However, Malonson told USA Today that she anticipated the skeptical response to her participation:
“I wasn’t sure if I would even place in the pageant because I wasn’t sure they would think I was ‘black enough. “I chose to do the pageant to gain a deeper inner confidence before I graduate, while breaking stereotypes that black people or mixed-race people have to look a certain way,” she said.
“At first, it really caught me off guard because I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal,” she said. “Then I realized I could use this as an opportunity and platform to break down the stereotypes that black people have to look a certain way to be accepted.”
Malonson said that when Kappa Alpha Psi posted photos of the pageant to their Twitter, random users began complaining about her not being black enough.
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