LAURINBURG —The 24th annual Kuumba Pageant will kick off a weekend of fun while crowning a queen to reign over the African-American Kuumba Fesitval.

The pageant will take place at the Laurinburg Presbyterian Church at 6 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 12 and can be purchased at the door.

The pageant will feature 10 contestants competing to be crowned Kuumba Jr.; Princess; Kuumba Princess; and Kuumba Queen.

The Kuumba Jr. Princess contestants are London Miller, Faith McCallum, Ja’Zaria McCrimmon, and Lyric Edwards.

Competing for Kuumba Princess are Michaela Maiden, Darasia Williams, and Zykeria Rivers.

In the running for Kuumba Queen are Zycoria Adams, Rayana Hair, and Denish Hill.

The pageant is put on by the African American Heritage Committee’s annual Kuumba Pageant and the winners will be crowned at the day-long Kuumba Festival on Saturday.

“The Kuumba Pageant is the finale to showcase of the dedication and hard work that the young ladies have put forth for the last eleven weekends. The festival and the pageant were created to celebrate the many contributions of Africans and Black Americans,” said Kim Slocum, Kuumba Pageant co-coordinator.

Contestants will be judged on poise,appearance, personal introduction, and personality during an interview, modeling, and a talent. Co-Coordinator Lesley Strickland states the pageant is an opportunity for the young ladies to embrace their heritage as well as searching within themselves to bring out their own unique gifts and talents.

“The pageant is an opportunity for the young ladies to embrace their heritage as well as searching within themselves to bring out their own unique gifts and talents,” said Lesley Strickland, Kuumba Pageant co-coordinator.

The winners of the 2017 Kuumba Pageant will be crowned at 12 noon on Saturday during the festival which is set from 10 am to 6 pm. The festival is in its 27th year and will take place at Market Park, located at 17100 Lee’s Mill Road.

For information or tickets, call Slocum at 910-318-8021.

Williams
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Darasia-Williams-2.jpgWilliams

Hill
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Denisha-Hill.jpgHill

McCallum
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Faith-McCallum.jpgMcCallum

McCrimmon
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Ja-Zaria-McCrimmon.jpgMcCrimmon

Miller
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_London-Miller.jpgMiller

Edwards
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Lric-Edwards.jpgEdwards

Adams
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Adams.jpgAdams

Hair
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Hair.jpgHair

Maiden
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Maiden.jpgMaiden

Rivers
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Rivers.jpgRivers

By Nolan Gilmour

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Reach Nolan Gilmour at 910-506-3171