Ashonda Simmons, a junior African-American studies and mathematics major, walked away with the crown in the Miss Black EIU 2001: Women of Royalty, Past and Present pageant Saturday night.

LaTacia Land, a sophomore English major, was named first runner up, and Chyna Roundtree, a freshman psychology major, was named second runner up.

The pageant was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. The contestants competed in four categories: creative expression, African garment, talent and evening gown and impromptu questioning.

For the first category, creative expression, the contestants all performed types of monologues expressing their personal beliefs and characteristics on a subject of their choice to the judges and audience.

For the African garment category, each contestant designed, created and modeled an African garment that reflected their African-American heritage. While the girls modeled their garments, a pre-recorded monologue played of what their African heritage meant to them.

Then each contestant was given the opportunity to show the judges and audience their own special talents during the talent category. Roundtree, a member of the EIU Illusions dance team, performed a dance routine. Land delivered a monologue from the perspective of a mother raising a black child, and Simmons performed a series of dances including tap, jazz and traditional African dance.

The final category was the evening gown impromptu questioning category. Each contestant modeled an evening gown of their choice and was then asked an impromptu question from the mistress of ceremonies, LaTrease Nettles, a junior African-American studies major. Joining her was the master of ceremonies, Justin Greer, a sophomore speech communication major.

Aside from the title of Miss Black EIU 2001, four other awards were given to the three contestants. The ebony award, given to the contestant who shows the most knowledge and

devotion to her heritage was given to Simmons. She also was the recipient of the enterprise award given to the contestant who raised the most money for the pageant.

The award for Miss Congeniality was given to Land as was the award for Miss Togetherness. The Miss Togetherness award is given to the contestant who shows the best time management skills throughout pageant preparation.

The contestant with the highest grade point average is given the Miss Scholarship award. Roundtree was the recipient of this year’s Miss Scholarship award.

Awards also were given for the top contestant in each category. Roundtree won the creative expression category; Land won the talent category and the African garment category.

After Simmons was crowned Miss Black EIU, she said she was excited, but she also was glad it was all over.

“It was really hard preparing, but we all became like a close family,” Simmons said.

She said they all agreed to come back next year and co-coordinate the pageant for Miss Black EIU 2002. She hasn’t yet made any plans for her upcoming year as Miss Black EIU.

“I just want to get through this night and celebrate with my family and get a clear head for tomorrow,” she said.

Land, the first runner up, said she competed in the pageant to have fun and that’s exactly what she did.

“I think I messed up a little on my creative expression, and I really think that I didn’t do as well as I should have answering the question, but otherwise I had fun,” she said.

Land said she was excited about being named first runner up because the queen has so many responsibilities.

“More power to her. I’m really happy for her,” she said.

Through tears, Roundtree, the second runner up, said she had a lot of fun doing the pageant and she thought it was a good experience.

“I don’t know if I would do it again, but it was a good experience,” Roundtree said.

Roundtree said she wanted to congratulate Simmons on being the new Miss Black EIU. “We all worked hard, and I think she deserves it.”

Before Simmons was crowned the new Miss Black EIU, Rashida Garrett, a senior elementary education major, took her final walk as Miss Black EIU 2000.

“I thought that all the girls did an excellent job, and I had no clue who would win,” Garrett said. “It was a hard decision. Chyna did an awesome job with her dance and with her monologue. LaTacia did a spectacular job (with) her monologue and with her issue and Ashonda did an excellent job showing her variety in dance, not just one style.”

Garrett said she thought each girl had a very distinct personality and any of them would have deserved the title of Miss Black EIU 2001.

Garrett said she was a little saddened at the thought of giving up her title, but she was excited for Simmons and said she deserved it.