Kahlia Brown and Laila-Joy Perry. Photo courtesy of Red Patch Studios.
Laila-Joy Perry and Kahlia Brown aren’t only cousins, they’re Pennsylvania royalty.
You may have seen them around Harrisburg, their home city, wearing their tiaras and sashes or at the occasional ribbon cutting or parade.
The girls think it’s fun to feel like celebrities, waving to crowds and meeting with city officials, but even queens and princesses get a little nervous at times.
Perry and Brown both proudly represent Harrisburg on a national level in the Little Miss Black US of A pageant. Perry, 7, was selected as Little Miss Black Central Pennsylvania and Brown, 12, was chosen as Little Miss Black Pennsylvania, each for her own age group.
To the girls, competing in the pageant means more than showcasing their talents, intellect and beauty, it’s about a chance to inspire other girls, represent their community and grow in confidence.
“I was so ecstatic to be chosen,” Brown said. “Because I wanted to show girls that they can do this.”
“Especially because the pageant is for Black girls,” Perry chimed in.
The Little Miss Black US of A pageant, founded by Letricia Loftin Russell, is in its second year of promoting, celebrating and empowering young Black girls around the country. For 2023, 32 girls, across six states, were chosen to compete in the national pageant, held at the end of July in Maryland.
Girls who apply and are selected participate in community service, sisterhood bonding and other events leading up to the competition. There, they participate in dance numbers, fun fashion showcases and onstage interviews.
According to Tracie Hunt, community and public affairs director for the pageant, there aren’t many other pageants like this, specifically for Black girls.
“There isn’t always a space for Black queens, so we are intentional about making that space for them,” she said.
While crowned, Perry and Brown have had the chance to meet with Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams. Brown even appeared on Harrisburg’s local TV station, WHBG 20, to discuss self-confidence with Williams.
“I like seeing Black women in leadership,” Brown said of meeting with Williams.
Perry, who wants to be a police officer when she grows up, also got to meet Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter.
“There needs to be more Black and girl police officers in the world,” she said.
Through all of these experiences, Racquelle Perry, Laila’s mom and Brown’s aunt, has seen the girls grow in confidence and poise.
“It’s important for young girls, specifically Black girls, to know that they are seen, they are appreciated, they are loved and valued, no matter how much society may make them feel like they are less than,” she said.
Brown knows the importance of promoting self-worth, and that’s the platform she’s standing on throughout the pageant.
“Girls need to love themselves,” she said. “I want to help them.”
The cousins practiced together for the pageant, which helped calm their nerves going into the event. But mostly, they were just excited to compete together.
For one portion of the evening, Brown will wear chucks and pearls in honor of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ signature style, and Perry will wear an outfit paying homage to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
The pageant will take place just days after this story is published, and the girls will find out the results, but to them, winning is only a bonus.
“I just want to have fun,” Brown said. “I don’t really have to win. It’s about sisterhood and having fun.”
“It doesn’t matter if I win or lose, at least I competed,” Perry added.
And while the girls are still young, Racquelle is hopeful that one day, they will look back at this experience and understand the impact it had on not only their lives, but the broader community.
“It’s something they’ll really appreciate when the time comes,” she said. “And the fact that the two of them are from Harrisburg is not only a win for the city, but overall, for Pennsylvania.”
For more information about the Little Miss Black US of A pageant and to see the 2023 results, visit www.littlemissblackusofa.com.
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