" Morgan made me everything that I am today. It is the place that molded me, and the best benefit is my line sisters. I still have relationships with professors. THAT’S THE THING ABOUT HBCUS: FAMILY AND LOVE."
- MONALESA
MonaLesa Diamond Brackett . MonaLesa Diamond Brackett . MonaLesa Diamon
crossed, I had such a great time, I said ‘I’m having fun, let me relax a little and not breeze through.’ I got the full HBCU drumline experience. Morgan made me everything that I am today. It is the place that molded me, and the best benefit is my line sisters. I still have relationships with professors. That’s the thing about HBCUs: family and love.”
compete in a beauty pageant without sacrificing modesty.
University and Wayne State University to inspire young Muslim women to participate in its pageant competition and others. “It feels incredibly meaningful and deeply validating,” said Howe. “MonaLesa embodies the empowerment, dignity, strength, and grace that Miss Muslimah USA represents. Her involvement is a beautiful reminder that the work we’ve been doing for nearly a decade truly matters. Her presence shows how impactful this platform is and how much light can be created when women uplift one another.”
“There were so many misconceptions about Muslim women both, hijabi and non-hijabi, and very few opportunities for us to tell our own stories,” said Helana Bowe, CEO of Miss Muslimah USA. “Miss Muslimah USA celebrates the achievements of all Muslim women. We teach self-esteem, courage, leadership, and personal empowerment giving women a stage that Muslim women have never truly had before.” When Brackett sought support from Miss Muslimah USA, it gave the organization a much-needed boost, said Howe. Miss Muslimah USA and Brackett will team up this year for its 2026 national competition which will take place in Columbus, Ohio. The organization also plans to begin partnering with HBCUs, though it already has connected with other major universities such as The Ohio State
A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS WITHIN FAITH
Brackett found mentors, partners and prayer warriors along her journey to help her achieve her beauty queen dreams. One of those included Miss Muslimah USA, a national organization founded in 2016 by a modest clothing designer and mother, Maghrib Shahid. Aimed at providing Muslim women in America a platform where their identity, faith, beauty and leadership could be celebrated without judgment or misunderstanding, the organization offers Muslim women a chance to
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