[Essence] #BlackGirlMagic: A Natural Hair Pageant Turned Platform for Entrepreneurs

The Miss Naturally Crowned competition is the perfect marriage between the natural hair movement and beauty pageants. The event was started in December 2013 by best friends, entrepreneurs and naturalistas Jessica E. Boyd and Maureen A. Ochola. It was initially conceived as more of a community service, but quickly became a platform for grooming naturalista entrepreneurs.

The lovely part about this platform is how it has transformed in just two short years. “Our first year, a lot of the energy was surrounding the promotion of natural hair and empowerment,” Ochola shared with Mic. “Last year we introduced a pitch concept, with the woman all focused on entrepreneurship. They got on stage and pitched their particular business.