For New Executive Direction And Board Member Leadership 

The Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization have  caused trauma, depression, and  eating disorders to name a few, amongst some of  the young women who have competed throughout the years. As a former contestant of 10+  years, I have experienced discrimination, racial remarks, rigged pageants, hand picked winners, micro-aggressions and toxic competing environments. 

The Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization’s Board Members lack transparent and honest leadership. For decades, volunteers, board members, and executive directors are longstanding friends and even relatives. Making it a contrived system for their inner circle to participate, win and succeed. 

Three times, a black woman has applied to be on the Miss CT Board and was denied regardless of her wholehearted, 15 year commitment to the organization. Having produced CT Teen and Miss Titleholders. She was told there were no vacancies, but a month later, the Board appointed someone else. Future contestants deserve a fair shot at the Miss Connecticut Teen and Miss Connecticut crown regardless of race, skin color, size, and economic status. This past year, women were begged to compete to fill in contestants spots so that there was an actual pageant. Contrary to the scores and competitive level of each contestant who competed pageant weekend. Miss Connecticut was handpicked and the top 7 was chosen by the board members, not by earned score. “Following the preliminary night competition, panelists gather with State Leadership, Panelists chair and the auditors to conduct the composite score. Panelists are to consider all factors and a contestants overall performance to date and roll off titleholder when assigning this composite score.” 

There is little recruitment for Black Women because there is little representation of Black Winners. In 21 years, there has not been a Black Miss Connecticut. While some have used merit as a reason to justify their prejudices, it is not because there haven’t been any well qualified Black women. It is the deeply rooted racial issues that hinder Black Women from being Miss Connecticut and earning The Miss Connecticut Scholarship. 

It is time that the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization starts over! NEW LEADERSHIP. A New Executive Director and Board Members. The new board should be like most, hold interviews and bring  in people from different backgrounds to build the organization. It should  be doctors, lawyers, educators, entrepreneurs, experts in race relations, and entertainers, both men and women. Especially since the goal is to empower young women. The process should thoroughly executed to meet greater criteria and not handpicked from the inner circle of the decade long friends and associates. Let’s work together to save the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization to restore and uplift rather than destroy and harm. Those who have destroyed the program should no longer run it.