Five Eastern students will compete for the Miss Black EIU crown Saturday.

The 28th annual Miss Black EIU pageant will take place at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union as a continuing celebration of African American Heritage Month on campus.

“This event is held each year to give not only African American women an opportunity to express their culture, but any woman on campus who feels that they want to express what their culture means to them,” assistant director of Student Life Monique Cook-Bey said Wednesday.

The contestants will be judged on their creative expression, talent, African garment and evening gown representation with an impromptu question. In addition, four special recognition awards will be given to the contestants who earn them.

“These ladies have been working extra hard this week to ensure a successful performance,” last year’s Miss Black EIU pageant winner, junior African American studies major Ashanda Simmons said.

“The pageant will run a little different this year, but will definitely be something to look forward to,” she said, explaining that people will have to come to the event to see for themselves.

Cook-Bey said she “encourages everyone to come out and enjoy the pageant because these women have worked extremely hard toward their individual performances.”

Doors will open promptly at 6 p.m. where refreshments will be served until the start of the pageant.

“Come early because the show will begin on time, and there is limited amount of seating available,” Cook-Bey said.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $8 at the ticket box office in the Union until Friday. Tickets are $12 at the door. The ticket cost includes admission into the pageant, food and the coronation ceremony immediately following the pageant.

This year’s contestants are sophomore accounting major Cassandra Cherry, junior family and consumer sciences major Bithyah Graham, junior psychology major Kia Gowder, sophomore speech communication major Tiffany Lacy and sophomore radio/television major Kimberly Searcy.

Lacy believes she “has gained a lot from this experience while being able to express her African American heritage.”

Gowder added that she “has a message she wants to express through her performance.”