By Kiara Doyal, Seattle Medium
The Miss Black USA pageant, a prestigious platform that celebrates the brilliance, beauty, and limitless potential of Black women, has crowned Seattle resident Justine Baker as Miss Black Washington USA 2024.
Founded in 1987, the Miss Black USA pageant is more than a beauty pageant. It is truly a space to uplift Black women across the United States as they express themselves through different categories. On August 4, contestants, including Baker, from across the country will compete for the title of Miss Black USA.
Originally from Michigan, Baker moved to Seattle in 2022 to take a job with Fox 13 Seattle as a producer and journalist, specializing in digital. Transitioning from her notable role as an on-camera host for FOX 13, and a celebrated author, Baker now adds another significant title to her growing list of accolades.
“To wear the crown is a duty and delight; it’s a testament to the responsibility of uplifting others and championing the causes close to our hearts. It is an honor to be a force of positive change,” says Baker on becoming Miss Black Washington USA.
The pageants are judged on categories like talent and platform. “The platform category is where we speak and we talk about different initiatives that we are doing, but some of the key features of it are scholarship, partnership, and community impact,” says Baker.
Being crowned Miss Black Washington USA this year has been something that Baker holds dear to her heart, as she strives to be a role model in the Black community.
“This opportunity has been very important to me,” says Baker. “Growing up in Detroit, a predominantly black city, and then coming here to Seattle, I felt like there were a few gaps that I could fill. Being that Black role model in a community like Seattle, it has been such an amazing experience to be an inspiration to young girls and young children in the area.”
Since moving to Seattle, Baker has become an advocate for increasing the visibility and impact of Black role models in the community. Her desire and dedication to improve opportunities for kids to learn more about reading stemmed from her personal background as a journalist, and from learning from her mother who was a teacher for 40 years.
“My platform is literacy for all. My goal is to be able to donate $2,000 to students, kids, and teachers in the community of Seattle,” says Baker. “Currently, I go and visit different libraries and schools to talk about the importance of literacy and as well as donating books while I am there.”
According to Sarah J.E. Dean, Washington State Pageant Director for Miss Black Washington USA, Baker is an excellent representative for the state of Washington, who proudly continues the legacy of those pageant winners who preceded her. “Justine is intelligent, caring, talented, and of course beautiful. She continues the tradition of excellence exhibited by our past queens,” says Dean.
Moving across the country on a whim solely based on a dream has allowed Baker to show people that anything is possible as she is grateful to be working her dream job at Fox 13 Seattle and being a mode of inspiration for young Black girls and women across the nation.
“I want girls to know that they can have wild dreams and know that there is the possibility to achieve them, and so being able to have this platform and be a beacon of hope has been really important to me,” says Baker. “I will be that beacon of hope and resilience, showing young Black women that they, too, can be authentically themselves and achieve their dreams.”
“I want to be the leader who paves a path of possibilities for those who haven’t found their way. I want young women to look at me and know all of their dreams are possible,” continued Baker. “I will be a beacon of hope and resilience, showing young black women that they, too, can be authentically themselves and achieve their dreams.”
