The Lincolnian

Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Features

Tiffany Perry is crowned Miss Lincoln for the 2007-2008 academic school year.

The spotlight centered on Tiffany Perry as she took her first step down the runway.

Wearing a light blue gown with white rhinestones, Perry was crowned last April as Lincoln University's "Miss Lincoln." Her reign as Miss Lincoln will last until the end of next semester.

At first, Perry seemed startled by the honor, taking a moment to look out into the crowd. But then she spotted her mother, father and best friend Tiffani in the audience and soon a smile surfaced on her face.

After three years of patiently waiting, her dream had finally come true: Perry had been crowned Miss Lincoln.

Perry says that she wants to use her new platform to lead other females to the crown and embody a strong African American woman on campus.

Since the 1970's Miss HBCU pageants have been used to help bolster the image of African Americans who were once excluded from participating in the largely white Miss America pageants.

"I don't think the meaning of the pageant has changed," said Perry, who is majoring in Mass Communications. "Being Miss Lincoln makes me feel proud to be of African descent and compete against other African American females".

Born on May 10, 1986 in a Pentecostal family in Far Rockaway, New York, Perry arrived on Lincoln University's campus on August 13, 2004 to begin her first year.

"I knew there was four things I really wanted to do here at Lincoln: have a 4.0 grade point average, join a Greek organization, become a cheerleader and become Miss Lincoln," she said.

Recently, Perry had the opportunity to attend the Miss Historically Black College and University pageant in downtown Atlanta. Though she did not win the pageant, she said that the experience was life changing.

In addition to her busy schedule as Miss Lincoln, Perry also serves as the president of Lincoln's Delta Sigma Theta and works as a student leader ambassador and student activities assistant.

The perks of the position that Perry holds includes all-paid travel and rooming expenses to various pageants across the country.

"My family is important to me and they make me want to be a great Miss Lincoln," said Perry who is an only child. ."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools