*A Kappa Alpha Psi-hosted beauty pageant that was open to black women at the University of Texas has come under fire for its choice of winner, a very light-skinned biracial student who some say isn’t “black enough.”
Rachael Malonson, a 22-year-old journalism major, took home the crown at the fraternity’s Miss Black UT pageant on Sunday, beating seven other contestants in a competition that included five hours of dancing, singing, posing, answering questions and more, according to USA Today.
Congratulations to our 2017 Miss Black University of Texas! We thank our lovely contestants, as well as everyone else who came to support!?? pic.twitter.com/yEva52wpSp
— Iota Delta NUPEs (@ID_NUPEs) May 2, 2017
Introducing your 2017 Miss Black University of Texas. Our Vice President @RachaelMalonson ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/DtBfd2AW98
— UT NABJ (@UTNABJ) May 1, 2017
When Malonson was announced the winner on social media, however, a debate was sparked online about her light complexion – the result of a black father and white mother – being historically considered the standard of beauty for African American women.
@avuitton_ @afrolatinababe @ID_NUPEs @RachaelMalonson @WhatUpDoeDoe @Emma_mattie @nyleswashington @Davidallen_3 she’s clearly the lightest, damn near white looking “black woman” & she won over the others. quit playing dumb guys. it looks sketchy
— chocolate drop ?✨ (@_ColeWorldShwty) May 3, 2017
@ID_NUPEs @RachaelMalonson @WhatUpDoeDoe @Emma_mattie @nyleswashington @Davidallen_3 soooo… this is a joke right?? pic.twitter.com/zX57gU4Mc4
— islandting ?? (@oddneekah_) May 3, 2017
@avuitton_ @gwenmcdonald1 @ID_NUPEs @RachaelMalonson @WhatUpDoeDoe @Emma_mattie @nyleswashington @Davidallen_3 You can be black genetically and never navigate this world as a black person. But that’s just me pic.twitter.com/lnhIqMgCk0
— Chris???? (@christellecraze) May 3, 2017
@UTNABJ @RachaelMalonson She’s black?
— DJ~?SaveTheGoats? (@DJ2779) May 1, 2017
Malonson actually anticipated a few side-eyes. “I wasn’t sure if I would even place in the pageant because I wasn’t sure they would think I was ‘black enough’,” she told USA Today. She decided to enter anyway. “I chose to do the pageant to gain a deeper inner confidence before I graduate, while breaking stereotypes that black people or mixed-race people have to look a certain way,” she said.
Malonson told the Daily Texan that she’s always had to deal with this type of criticism.
“For me, I’ve always had to battle ‘I’m not black enough,” Malonson said. “But to not just place, but win the title is truly rewarding.”
The co-ed also expressed gratitude to those supporting her online, though she told the Dallas Morning News she had to delete her Twitter app during the negativity on her timeline. She said she wants to “teach people that not every black person [and] not every mixed person looks the same way.”
A time that was supposed to make me feel worthless turned into a beautiful reminder that I have true brothers and sisters at UT❤️
— Rachael Malonson (@RachaelMalonson) May 2, 2017
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