About Us

Who Are We?

Miss Juneteenth Central Texas Pageants with purpose

2022 Miss Juneteenth Central Texas Pageant

The Miss Juneteenth Central Texas Pageant is much more than just a beauty pageant!

We are a volunteer-led pageantry organization open to young ladies aged 5 to 18 who reside in the Austin, Central Texas, and Texas region. Not only do we host our amazing and elegant annual Juneteenth pageant, but we also provide mentorship programs, promote youth empowerment, and educate on history, culture, and the importance of community service and education by offering scholarships through pageantry for the young ladies within our region.

We Pageant with Purpose!

Our contestants are assessed in various areas including evening gown, platforms, talent, interviews, and on-stage questionnaire. The winners of Miss Juneteenth Pageants (Queen Title) will be invited to represent the Miss Juneteenth Texas organization, Austin/Central Texas, and the state of Texas in the national Miss Juneteenth preliminaries and Pageant, provided eligibility requirements are met. Titleholders will also receive a glamorous prize package, scholarship, and the opportunity of a lifetime!

Are you ready to be the next

Miss Juneteenth Queen?

Mission & Vision

Miss Juneteenth Central Texas' mission and vision are to encourage our youth to develop self-confidence and high self-esteem through empowerment and mentorship. We aim to educate our youth about their history and culture, emphasizing the importance of community service, sisterhood, and education. We achieve this by providing scholarships through pageantry and promoting increased cultural awareness within our community.

History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.

Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes on a more national, symbolic and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten.

On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday!

Miss Juneteenth Central Texas celebrates Juneteenth History

Meet Our Director

Tanisha Barnett, Director

Miss Juneteenth Central Texas Pageant Director Tanisha Barnett

Meet Tanisha Barnett. She is the award-winning CEO of NHT & Co. Tanisha is a wife, mother of two and a serial entrepreneur. She has a professional career background and experience in Pharmacy, Business Management and a deep passion for pageantry. She has been a pageant queen since the age of 14 years old. Tanisha has been crowned Queen and holds several pageantry titles, including the title of Miss Juneteenth Austin 2007.

Tanisha has been involved with the Miss Juneteenth Pageants starting in her youth, 19 years ago as a contestant. She is the Executive Director and Pageant Director for the Austin/Central Texas region and founded the Miss Juneteenth State of Texas Pageant.

Mrs. Barnett received an Outstanding Leadership award for her community service efforts in Austin, TX by the NAACP. Tanisha has presented at America's Biggest Business Networking and Educational Event, The Small Business Expo. and highlighted as one of the top 250 Most influential African Americans in Central Texas. Mrs. Barnett was also an Austin Under 40 Finalist for Youth & Education for all of the work and dedication she's given to the Miss Juneteenth Pageant.

"Pageants are a growing trend in celebrating the #Juneteenth holiday. Tanisha Barnett, the State of Texas Founder and Pageant Director for the Miss Juneteenth Central Texas Scholarship Pageant says that pageants are a way to educate young black women about their history and celebrate their unique beauty."

-BNC News

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