Royal Spotlight: National Miss Black and Gold 2017-2019 Sabrina K. Victor

The Royal Spotlight is an interview series where I highlight queens from a variety of pageant systems. This month I have the pleasure of featuring National Miss Black and Gold 2017-2019 Sabrina K. Victor.

Tell us about yourself.
My name is Sabrina Victor, and I am a 21 year old graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am a dual degree graduate with two degrees in theater and journalism. I also obtained a multicultural theater certificate, and I was a member of the Commonwealth Honors College. I am dedicated to multicultural theater and telling the stories of marginalized groups. Through my pageant platform, #SpeakYourTruth, I want to use theater to encourage those who are unheard to use their voices to change the narratives of today. I am also interested in entertainment journalism and being able to tell multicultural stories through journalism practices as well. I love to sing, dance, and act, and I’ve recently been interested in modeling. I’ve performed in a number of plays and musicals, and I hope to continue performing.

When did you start competing in pageants?

I started competing in pageants last year in 2017. Before transferring to UMass Amherst for my junior year of college, I saw my friend compete in the Miss Black and Gold pageant at UMass Amherst, and I felt inspired to do the same.

Why do you compete in pageants?

I initially started competing in pageants because I thought it would be a different way to earn scholarship money as opposed to writing an application. I believe it’s hard to present all of who you are on a piece of paper so I saw the Miss Black and Gold pageant as an opportunity to represent who I am as a black woman. As a theater major, I already felt comfortable being on a stage so I felt like competing in a pageant was something I could possibly do.

How many titles have you won?

I have won 4 titles – Miss Black and Gold, Alpha Kappa Chapter

Miss Black and Gold, ONECA (Organization of New England Chapters of Alpha) District

Miss Eastern Region Black and Gold

The National Miss Black and Gold 2017-2019

Tell us about the National Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant.

The Miss Black and Gold Scholarship pageant is an annual collegiate pageant system sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.It allows participants the opportunity to display their talents and honors them for their scholastic achievements and dedication to service and leadership. The pageant categories are similar to what you would see in Miss USA or Miss America – an introduction, swimsuit, talent, evening gown, onstage question, and a private interview with the judges. Contestants start at the chapter level where they compete at the university they attend. Then they have the opportunity to advance on to the district level (which is usually a state or group of states in the case of New England), regional level, and finally nationals.

In your opinion, how is a fraternity pageant different from a mainstream pageant?

I think a fraternity pageant is different because contestants have a lot more leeway to be free in their performances. Mainstream pageants tend to force contestants to uphold certain standards such as a specific look or a type of talent. In my experience, I’ve been able to express myself more freely in the outfits I wear and my choice of talent when doing a fraternity pageant. Also, because Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated is the first historically black collegiate fraternity, the pageants tend to allow contestants to speak on their lives as black individuals.

How do you prepare for competition?

I see a pageant as the same as when I’m performing in a play. I usually do lots of breathing exercises to clear my diaphragm and calm my nerves. I also like to pray before any performance I do because it gives me a sense of serenity in all the chaos that comes with being backstage. I also stress to myself that at the end of the day what I’m doing is not just about winning or losing or gaining recognition, but it is to make myself happy and have fun. I wouldn’t have made it through each pageant I competed in if I didn’t truly have fun with it. Even throughout the rehearsal process I was always the one making others laugh and even laughing at myself. I’ve learned to smile through my mistakes and just get back up and try again.

What are your future plans for your pageant career?

I didn’t see myself as a pageant girl until I participated in my first Miss Black and Gold pageant. I was always an avid watcher of them, but after the wonderful experiences I’ve had already, there is definitely more pageantry in my future. With the support of my friends and family, I’ve been able to excel in the Miss Black and Gold pageant system. I will be competing for the title of Miss Massachusetts USA 2019 in November. This is just the start for me!

What words of advice do you live by?

“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” – Oprah Winfrey

Please provide your contact information so that others can reach out to you.

Personal Facebook: Sabrina Victor

Pageant Facebook: National Miss Black and Gold

Personal Instagram: sabrinakvictor

Pageant Instagram: missblackandgold

Email: missbgnational@gmail.com