Aysia Pennel, Miss Black Rancho Cucamonga (2nd runner up), Jasmine Johnson, 2013/14 Miss BlackCalifornia USA, and Sarah Fontenot, Miss Black Hollywood (first runner up).
Cora Diggins, Ms. Black Torrance, first runner up, and Cinderella Graham, winner, 2013 Ms. Black California USA
Beautiful Jasmine Amirah Johnson of Inglewood was crowned Miss Black California 2013/14 on Sunday, December 30, 2012 at the La Quinta Inn and Suites LAX. The 21-year old is a senior at Cal Berkeley, where she is on a full four-year scholarship. She is majoring in media studies with a minor in cultural anthropology. Jasmine attended City Honors Charter High School in the City of Inglewood.
The new Miss Black California USA has won a $5,000 scholarship which she will apply toward her masters’ degree. She also won an all expense paid trip to the Miss Black USA Competition in the Bahamas in 2013.
During her reign, she will serve as the MBCAUSA ambassador, promoting her platform on youth at risk, and supporting the national platform on heart health with the American Heart Association, with several scheduled appearances throughout the year. Jasmine will also compete for Miss Black USA in 2014, where she will sport her new wardrobe, compliments of the Miss Black California USA Scholarship and Pageant Foundation.
Two other equally impressive beauties, Sarah Fontenot of Hollywood (age 24) and Aysia Pennell (age 19) of Rancho Cucamonga were first and second runners up, respectively.
The Miss Black America USA Scholarship Fund was founded by Karen Arrington of Maryland, to provide educational support and vocational direction for women of color throughout the United States. Keisha Escamilla, who hails from the Miss America program, is the newly appointed Executive Director of the Miss Black California USA scholarship and pageant foundation. To qualify for entry, contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 27, a US citizen, a natural born female, and a resident of the State of California.
Concurrently, in a separate, slightly older category, the new Ms. (‘Mizz’) Black California USA program netted a win for 28 year-old Cinderella Graham, a working actress and model, representing her home town of Pomona, California. Her first runner-up is Cora Diggins, a 30 year old, the current Ms. Black Torrance, California. The “Ms.” Category of the Miss Black California program was formed to acknowledge the group of women between 28 and 45, and includes single women, married women, and moms, who are also driven, health oriented, and beautiful, but over the age limit for most pageants. Cinderella won a $2,500, savings bond and will also take the trip to the Bahamas. She will join Jasmime as an ambassador throughout the year representing the Miss (& Ms.) Black California USA pageant and foundation.
