Miss Black USA

Entrepreneurship and ingenuity are often fostered by actively recognizing and addressing legitimate needs within a community, networking to find viable solutions, and implementing programs that drive meaningful improvements. Many women, particularly women of color, experience a subtle emotional tax when serving in environments where they are not actively engaged or encouraged, and where opportunities for advancement are limited. Supporting and motivating Black women, especially young women, is essential for creating a more inclusive, prosperous and equitable society—one that helps reduce the racial wealth gap. 

The Miss Black USA Organization empowers women to use their voices, own their power, and redefine what it means to be a compassionate, confident and beautiful Black woman today. Since 1987, this internationally recognized organization has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to outstanding Black young women. Eighty percent of Miss Black USA contestants are actively enrolled in graduate or professional school and are lawyers, scientists, educators and more. This pioneering organization celebrates and honors the talent, intelligence, beauty and culture of African American women nationwide. 

Natural Awakenings of Columbia is delighted to introduce two local contestants who will compete in the national Miss Black USA 2025 Pageant in Waldorf, Maryland, from June 15 through 19: Na’Kiya Tye and Taylor Gilliam. 

Tye, 22, currently holds the title of Miss Southern States Black United States 2025. A first-year law student at the University of South Carolina School of Law, she is inspired to pursue titles in a system designed specifically for Black women. Through her platform, Man, I Feel You, she hosts mental health summits for the Columbia community and local colleges, focusing primarily on young Black men. For her first upcoming women’s mental health summit, Ladies, I Hear You, Tye aims to create a safe space for women—especially women of color—to destigmatize mental health and foster a supportive community. 

Gilliam, a senior at the University of South Carolina, is the official first Miss South Carolina Black United States 2025. Her platform, Tiny Miracle Network, supports neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses, premature babies, and their mothers—and is especially close to her heart. Gilliam was born three months premature, and her mother suffers from congestive heart failure as a result of the pregnancy. She has donated numerous care packages to NICUs across South Carolina, led donation drives for premature babies, and advocated for the March of Dimes. 

“I want to inspire girls and women like me that they can do whatever they put their mind to, and they can succeed,” says Gilliam. “I started my pageant journey sophomore year of college in 2022 competing in the Mister and Miss Black University of South Carolina. While I didn’t win the pageant, it made me fall in love with pageantry and competing to better my skills.” 

As demonstrated by the success of its contestants, the Miss Black USA Organization has a proven track record of helping its “queens” secure life-changing scholarships, pursue global travel opportunities, gain acceptance to top medical schools, land major modeling contracts, launch multi-city speaking tours, and transform their lives and communities. Contributions to help cover the costs of Gilliam and Tye’s upcoming national pageant would be greatly appreciated. These donations will fuel their missions to elevate women of color and promote a legacy of unforgettable, life-changing opportunities.

by Kristi Antley

To support their journey to the national pageant, donations can be made through the following methods:

Taylor Gilliam: Cashapp $taygxllI | Instagram: 

@MissTaylorGilliam

Na’Kiya Tye: Cashapp $NakiyaTye

For more information, visit 

BlackUnitedStatesPageant.org or MissBlackUSA.org.