Happy Black History Month! It is time for another Royal Spotlight. 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 Charnae Payne, Miss of America 2021.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Charnae Payne, I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA but I currently live in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. I am a senior Biology student at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York. At Wagner, I am Student Government Association President, Vice President of the Black Student Union, a member of the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society and through the Peer Health Organization I teach health and sex education to high school students. My overall career goal is to attend Medical School and pursue a career in Neurosurgery. Additionally, I work as a signed model with EMG Models and MMG Model Talent and Celebrity Management in New York City.
When did you start competing in pageants?
I competed in my first pageant at the age of 17 with American Pageants when there was only the Miss Teen of America division. I was crowned Miss Teen of New Jersey 2016, and it will be a moment I will alway remember because it was my 17th birthday.
Why do you compete in pageants?
I started to compete in pageants because I wanted to try something different and push myself out of my comfort zone. I was invited to compete for the title of Miss Teen of New Jersey the summer before my senior year of high school. Being that the Miss Teen of America Organization was a scholarship-based pageant, it aligned with a lot of the things I valued such as my academics and service. Never competing in a pageant previously and looking to venture into something new, I entered and I surprisingly came home with the state title. I did not win the title of Miss Teen of America at nationals that year but having the opportunity to hold the title of Miss Teen of New Jersey served as a launchpad for me to become more active in the Cinnaminson community.
How many titles have you won?
I have held the title of Miss Teen of New Jersey 2016, Miss Teen of New York 2017 (top 7 placement at Nationals that year), Miss Teen of the Empire State where I placed 2nd runner up to the title of Miss Teen of America, and Miss of New York 2019-2020.
Tell us about the American Pageants system.
American Pageants is a scholarship based pageant which focuses on scholastic record, service and achievement to school and community, along with your personal development. 45% of judging is on your resumes alone before you actually even meet the judges in person. One of my favorite parts of competing in AP is the General Awareness Test. I like to think of it as fun little trivia about the world you. The “test” covers politics, fashion/ trends, current events in television, literature, and or sports. Aside from judging and competition, the American Pageants system is like being apart of an expanded family. I have been competing with AP for over four years now, and I have cherished every experience and person that I have met along the way through this program.
What have you learned about yourself through your pageant experience?
Through pageantry I have learned my strengths, my values, and what I would like to to stand for as a person. Competing under American Pageants has taught me that the person I have become is enough, and I do not have to try to be anything other than that. Throughout my experiences both good and bad I have been able to motivate other young women while still growing and evolving.
What are your future plans for your pageant career?
I know I will definitely be competing again, but I am not sure which system I will compete with in the future. I am doing my research on systems that will best fit me.
What words of advice do you live by?
Pursue every experience with Patience, Persistence, and Perseverance. This is a motto I have adopted from a scripture that has just always stuck with me. I have learned over the years that most things in life that are worth having are not going to come easy.
Please provide your contact information so that others can reach out to you. Email? Social
media handles?
My email address is moa@americanpageants.org. My pageant instagram/facebook is missofamerica, and my personal instagram /facebook is ch8arn8e.
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