Miss Essence awards scholarships, crowns
Published 6:00 pm Thursday, April 17, 2025
Miss Essence winners are pictured (left to right): People’s Choice Ashley Makayla Dorsey, First Runner-up ZaKendall Thompson, Miss Photogenic and 2025 Miss Essence Sameeria Isaac and Second Runner-up Zy’Mius Mount
Miss Teen Essence winners are pictured (left to right): Second Runner-up Karya Jalani Likely, Miss Photogenic and Miss Teen Essence Trinite’ Bryant and First Runner-up Tatiyanah Jones.
Sameeria Isaac wins the titles of Miss Photogenic and 2025 Miss Essence during the Miss Essence pageant.
Miss Little Essence winners are pictured (left to right): First Runner-up McKinley Wells, Miss Photogenic, People’s Choice and Miss Little Essence Carmon Amoni Thagard and Second Runner-up Ezra Anderson.
Miss Junior Essence winners are pictured (left to right): First Runner-up Jaylani Foster, Miss Junior Essence Jaycee Dixon and Second Runner-up Miss Photogenic and People’s Choice Layla Wells.
Miss Teeny Essence winners are pictured (left to right): People’s Choice Jade Cosburn, First Runner-up Brooklyn Symone Toney, Miss Photogenic and Miss Teeny Essence Daria’lyn Parker and Second Runner-up Kendall Gordon.
Miss Tiny Essence winners are pictured (left to right): People’s Choice and Second Runner-up JaNarria Cogburn, Miss Photogenic and Miss Tiny Essence Malia Rose Owens and First Runner-up Karleigh Boykin.
Miss Young Essence winners are pictured (left to right): Miss Photogenic and First Runner-up Carmani Crittenden, Miss Young Essence Hayden Debose, Second Runner-up Ryleigh Holliday and People’s Choice Morgan Peterson.
The Miss Essence Scholarship Pageant provided over $2,000 in scholarships to senior contestants on Saturday, April 12, at Highland Home School. Young ladies from Alabama and beyond competed in the pageant and the chance to earn scholarships and a crown.
The pageant is a contest with seven divisions of competition, with ages ranging from two-years-old to high school seniors.
DeAnza Sheridan, director of The Miss Essence Scholarship Pageant, is more than familiar with the pageant, as she was the winner of the Miss Essence Pageant in her junior year in 2008, and helped crown the winner during her senior year in 2009.
Around six years ago, Sheridan discussed her experience with the previous director, Petrina Sankey, and the two floated ideas for bringing back the meaningful event.
“I no longer live in the area; I live in Auburn right now, and I teach in a whole different school district. But it makes me feel good to know that I can always come back home to help out in the community,” Sheridan said.
While revitalizing the pageant Sheridan put together a committee to help with it, all of whom were graduates from schools in Crenshaw County.
Sheridan said she wanted to put more focus on the scholarships awarded to the contestants.
“At the time we did it [competed] the scholarship was not quite as much, but as the economy grows and things change, so does tuition prices,” Sheridan said. “In 2009 or 2010, the scholarship money was $200, that was maybe [enough to purchase] a book and a half; now a book is like $300 [or more], so I felt that the amount needed to grow and it would be helpful for the girls down in our community.
“Even though it’s not a huge $10,000 – $20,000 scholarship just yet, it’s still the fact that the amount we give can help them move forward with their futures.”
Between the divisions, girls in the pageant came from as near as Crenshaw County and as far as Mobile, Prattville, Andalusia and Brundidge, even out-of-state.
In the Miss Essence division of the pageant – for high school seniors – the queen received a $1,200 scholarship. The first runner-up received $600 and second runner-up received $300.
Additionally, the People’s Choice winner and returning seniors competing received an additional $100 book scholarship.
This year’s Miss Essence, Sameeria Isaac will be using her scholarship money to pursue further education with a major in general business. In addition to her scholarship money, Isaac will serve as a representative for the Miss Essence Scholarship Pageant in the future.
“I feel incredibly blessed and honored to have the opportunity to do something I love – pageants – and to use the proceeds to further my education at Troy University,” Isaac said.
Winners also received sashes and plaques along with their titles and crowns.
Sheridan extended a thank-you to Highland Home School for the use of their facility, and to the committee members and those who helped with the pageant: Daniels Tree, Tae Shante Daniels, Rasheeda Pimienta, Payton McGhee, Maretta Stroud and Nitika Matthews.
