When Candice Jackson was crowned Miss Muncie Black Expo on Aug. 23, it wasn't thoughts of world peace that danced through her head. But it was close.
Instead, the senior telecommunications major was thinking of ways to help the Muncie community. Her first mission was to start a chapter of the NAACP at Ball State University.
"The motto of the Indiana Black Expo is 'to be a vehicle for the social and economic advancement of the black community.' I think the NAACP has similar goals," Jackson said. "I think a conjunction can be made between the two."
Jackson said she also wants to spend her reign mentoring young girls in the Muncie community.
"You see some of these girls on the MITS bus, and you know they just need someone to talk to," Jackson said. "You know, life is not about what you look like; it's about what you have to offer. It's about who you really are. I don't look like your typical pageant girl, but I've always done what I want to do. There's no reason not to do what you're passionate about."
And for Jackson, being passionate has been the key to success. Although she was voted both prom and homecoming queen in high school, Jackson said she had never done a pageant before signing up for Miss Muncie Black Expo.
Yet Jackson not only walked away with the crown and $1,000 cash prize, but also won Best Talent and Best Formal Gown. She said believing in oneself is more important than training or coaching.
"I knew I couldn't sing," Jackson said with a laugh. "So I just had to be myself and stand out."
For the talent competition, Jackson performed an original monologue entitled "I Love You Period" - a piece comparing various types of love to punctuation marks.
Angelia Gordon, chair of the Miss Muncie Black Expo pageant, agreed that Jackson's confidence played an important part in her win.
"The purpose of the pageant is ... to promote self-confidence," Gordon said. "Without self-confidence, it's hard to be a productive citizen or to achieve goals. ... Candice portrayed confidence. ... she is a self-starter."
Indiana University junior Monique Jernigan, also competed in the pageant and said even the other girls were enthralled with Jackson.
"During our practices and rehearsal Candice's poise and personality was beautiful, and she was always well-dressed, spoken and behaved," she said. "Had I not competed, she would have had my vote."
With the support of the Muncie Black Expo fully behind her, Jackson is looking forward to a year of innovation and opportunities.
"I want to do some major things this year," Jackson said. "I want people to know about the pageant. I want people to know about the Muncie Black Expo."
The ExpoThe Muncie Black Expo, in its 13th year, stemmed from the Indiana Black Expo, which is held annually in Indianapolis. The Indiana celebration was created 33 years ago by two ministers who felt a need for an outlet for black people to learn more about each other. In the same regard, the Muncie Black Expo features a health and information fair, professional workshops, performances and the Miss Muncie pageant every year. It attracts a few thousand residents each year and is open to all of the community, regardless of race.
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