TeKema Balentine, Miss Black USA

Miss Black Wisconsin is now Miss Black USA.

On Sunday at the Performing Arts Theater in Washington D.C., Madison’s TeKema Balentine was victorious as she competed against women from 49 other states in the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant, a national stage for participants from across the United States to showcase their unique talents and beauty and to compete for scholarships.

“This is a cool opportunity for me,” Balentine told Madison365 before she headed out to the national competition. “I’m really excited about this opportunity and I’m going to give it my best shot.”

The 25-year-old Madison East graduate is pursuing a nursing degree at Madison College.

Miss Black USA is the largest and oldest scholarship pageant for Black women in America.  They have awarded over $500,000 in scholarships over the years since its inception in 1986 and are the largest single source of scholarship funding for women of color.