When Tonya Robinson heard about the Miss Juneteenth Virginia Legacy pageant from a friend, she asked her daughter, Faith, if she would be interested in entering it. Despite never having competed in a pageant before, Faith decided to try it.
“Why not explore it?” she said.
Why not, indeed?
Robinson, a first-year student at Virginia Peninsula Community College in the Social Science program studying psychology, won the Miss Williamsburg portion of the competition before capturing the state crown. It’s been a whirlwind as her one-year reign winds down.
“I’ve gone to see two pageants recently. We got to explore D.C. and see all the historical sites. We got to take pictures in front of the White House,” she said.
Other highlights of the past year include participating in African Landing Day at Fort Monroe last summer, having her picture taken under the Emancipation Oak on the Hampton University campus, and presenting Christmas gifts to a local family on behalf of the pageant. She also earned a $2,000 scholarship.
Recently, she competed in the Miss Juneteenth USA pageant in Illinois.
“That went very well. I came home with four awards,” she said.
Among them were third place for essay and first place for most votes.
For Robinson, one of the allures of the Miss Juneteenth Virginia Legacy pageant was its mentorship aspect.
According to the website www.missjuneteenthva.org, “The Miss Juneteenth Virgina Legacy Pageant is the Grand Finale to the #DefyTheOdds Mentorship Program. It is also a celebration of African American culture and personal development for young women in Virginia. The program focuses on education, empowerment, and cultural awareness. It’s a platform for young African American women to honor their history, embrace their identity, and be mentored in these changing times. Overall, The Miss Juneteenth Virgina Legacy Pageant is a journey of self-discovery, cultural celebration, and community empowerment, all wrapped into an inspiring and memorable experience.”
Robinson enjoyed learning about her culture.
“Each lesson, we go through our history and what it was like to be an African American during Civil War, during slavery,” she said. “It was like walking through the history of time.”
Learning about that history has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her reign.
“There’s a lot of things I did not know so far as African American history that I’ve gotten to learn through this program,” she said.
She noted she has had conversations with members of her church about her experience and African American history. Her specific platform was the mental health of today’s youth. She’s particularly concerned with rising rates of suicide among younger people.
“We’re seeing younger people hurting themselves,” she said.
One of the best things about the competitions is she’s able to incorporate her love of music into the pageants. She’s been playing the harp since middle school and writes music. At one of her pageants, she played the harp in the talent competition.
Robinson likes the growth she has seen in herself since entering the pageant.
“I would definitely say this has brought out a new level in me because I am a little bit of a shy person when it comes to meeting new people,” she said. “But with this title, I have to be able to talk to all people.”
Her mother has noticed growth not just in Faith, but in numerous pageant participants.
“I see their growth,” Tonya said, adding much of it is fueled by learning their history and how other people have overcome obstacles. “They realize … these great people have done this, and I can be an overcomer.”
Next up on her schedule is competing for Miss Virginia, which is part of the Miss America organization. That will be in June.
Until then, she’s concentrating on her studies at VPCC. She’s hoping to transfer to a four-year university and already has offers. She aspires to be a child psychologist. Her ideal job would be working with children and incorporating her love of music. She’s a 2024 graduate of Warhill High School and was a dual enrollment student at VPCC during her senior year of high school while attending New Horizons in Newport News.
She has enjoyed the small setting at VPCC, saying it offers more help.
“I’ve been able to (learn more) through tutors or teachers while a four-year school might not have been as accommodating,” she said.
Through the Miss Juneteenth Virginia Legacy pageant, she has learned others who came before her haven’t had the chances she has.
“I now have the freedom to go to college and be whatever I choose. I do not take this opportunity lightly,” she said. “Juneteenth is a symbolic holiday that commemorates all people were considered free. Virginia Peninsula Community College allows me to take steps toward my bigger dream. I thank Virginia Peninsula for giving me a great foundation.”