Senior Arian Doaks won the Miss Black and Gold Pageant, sponsored by the Theta Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., at the district convention at Ball State University on Friday.
"The Alphas have been so helpful with preparing me for the pageant," she said. "They made it seem like it was supposed to happen this way."
Doaks, an apparel design and fashion merchandise major, was one of four contestants from the fraternity chapters in the state, who competed for the title. Kagiso Paynter, Purdue University; Tykia Rodgers, Indiana University; Carmen Rouse, Indiana State University, represented the various Indiana chapters.
Each school in the state that has a chapter has a pageant, and each winner comes to the district convention to represent the school. The district winner goes on to the Midwest regional convention pageant, and the winner receives the national title, Ron Clark, fraternity member, said.
Years of taking dance lessons and clothes designing contributed to Doaks' overall performance. Her gown for the formal wear portion of the competition was an original design.
She said while drawing sketches for a class she decided to use it for class. She has also taken nine years of dance lessons, ranging from ballet to jazz. She used this skill to perform a praise dance to Kirk Franklin's "Hold me Now."
"God gave me these gifts," Doaks said. "What better time than to use it for the pageant."
Doaks' mother, Tasha Hodgens, said she's been praying ever since she found out about the pageant. She would have been proud of her daughter even if she did not win.
"She has always been my superstar," Hodgens said.
The chapter was notified of hosting the district convention in April.
Erika Quarles, pageant choreographer, said she was honored to help with the pageant and to give it a women's perspective.
"It is a great opportunity to showcase women and represent an active organization," Quarles said.
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