A 41-year-old tradition will take place with the naming of the 41st Miss Black EIU on Saturday.

Contestants Ashley Bell, a senior family and consumer sciences major, Brittany Carr, a junior sociology major, Keiyanna Franklin, a senior special education major, and Destiny Winford, a sophomore psychology major, will all be competing on Saturday.

The contestants will be competing in five categories: creative expression, African garment, talent, a question and answer category in evening gowns and a pre-interview with the judges.

The Black Student Union will present the new Miss Black EIU after the event begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Andre Allen, the Black Student Union president, said there are different rounds that a panel of faculty judges will evaluate and tally scores to chose the winner.

Allen is a senior communication studies major.

Miss Black EIU’s responsibilities include being the Black Student Union’s homecoming queen candidate and the planner of the next year’s pageant, Allen said.

Allen said the new Miss Black EIU must embody certain qualities.

“A good Miss Black EIU is a woman that values education, heritage and success,” Allen said. “She will be someone that will represent Black Student Union and Eastern Illinois University in a positive light.”

Dana Barnard, the assistant director of Student Life Office and the advisor of the Black Student Union, said Miss Black EIU is a spokesperson and an official representative of the BSU.

Allen said Miss Black EIU’s role is important to the campus.

Barnard said the contestants have been preparing for four months after having been through an application process and having firm academic standards.

Barnard said to be a contestant, students have to have a 2.5 GPA, have to pay an application fee of $40 and raise an additional minimum of $500 for the BSU and the Miss Black EIU pageant.

“We always have a new theme and add a unique factor to the pageant,” Allen said.

Barnard said it is important for students to attend.

“They’re putting this on to showcase their talents,” Barnard said. “(The contestants) put in a lot of work.”

Felicia Darnell can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].