Returning to the DSU stage this weekend is the annual Miss Black Western pageant.

Miss Black Western was started 43 years ago by Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority as a pageant for African American women. 

The pageant was meant to promote the talents, success and pride of African American women. It comes with a book scholarship that goes to the winner to help progress and continue their education.

There are ten contestants in the pageant this year. It will begin with a choreographed introduction dance.

The women will also prepare an introduction piece, stating their name, where they are from and why they are participating in the pageant.

There is a fashion show section. This year’s theme is “spring wear.” There will be a talent portion, as well as a formal section.

The top five will be chosen, and will proceed into a question and answer section that will determine the winner. 

Diamond Davies, a Louisville senior, is one of the co-chairs helping to organize the pageant this year. 

She said that at the end of last semester, the women in the sorority picked offices and she chose to do the Miss Black Western pageant.

“I really enjoyed being a part of it my freshman year,” Davies said. “So now that it’s my senior year I really wanted to have a more hands on experience.” 

Charity Neal, a Nashville senior, was a 2011 pageant participant. She decided to participate because she wanted to get out of her shell as a sophomore.

She said she wanted to do something, meet new people and get involved on campus. She feels that it’s important for other women to participate if they get the chance. 

“It’s important because you grow.” Neal said. “And this is a growing pageant where you see quiet freshman girls that keep to themselves and you see them grow and start to get out of their shell.” 

The pageant takes place on April 26 at 7:00.