Former Miss Southern’s Speak Out: A Timeless Tale

As the face of Southern University and a prominent figure that upholds beauty, talent, intelligence, and poise, Miss Southern University reigns as the student-appointed queen of the institution.
Miss Southern University is a title that has been given to young women of the university who embody such qualities for decades. This tradition dates back to 1929, when Lenora E. Jones-Washington reigned as the very first Miss Southern University.
The experience is said to be different for each queen, as history now holds 86 former Miss Southern Universities, while the 87th, Felise Thompson-Doyle is currently in her reign.
Many people wonder, what is it like to be Miss Southern? Does the title change who you are as a person? What truly lies underneath the crown?
For Kenya Warren-Hollins, the 81st Miss Southern University, the experience was a dream come true.
“I had a pretty amazing experience,” says Hollins of her 2010-2011 reign.
During her time as Miss Southern, she was given the opportunity to network with community leaders and fundraise over $15,000 for St. Jude’s efforts, the most any HBCU has ever raised for the children’s hospital.
Those efforts, however, do not reflect the challenges she faced transitioning into the role.
Hollins says, “The position helped me grow into the best me, not necessarily change me but it definitely prepared me for life after Southern.” With acknowledgement of the personal growth that being a student allotted, her reign was one she will never forget.
“If I could go back, I would have did more. I would have put on more events to raise more money and just been a little bit more active in the community to just highlight the great things that we do at Southern,” admitted Hollins.
The 86th Miss Southern University, Corinne Vaughn had an experience quite dissimilar during the 2016-2017 school year.
The year proved to be eventful for the university as a whole, but she claims it to have been exceptionally trying for her.
During her reign, Vaughn gained her spot as the number one HBCU Campus Queen of 2016, a title earned through EBONY Magazine. She spearheaded initiatives such as hygiene drives, teddy bear drives for Our Lady of The Lake Children’s Hospital, and inspirational speaking engagements for surrounding high school students.
Although she left a lasting impression, Vaughn says, “My experience as Miss Southern University was everything I would have never imagined… I contemplated giving up the crown, but then I remembered who I was doing it for: the students.”
The events that led to this outcome include alleged acts of harassment from the administration and other faculty of the university.
Miss Southern University is granted many privileges during her reign, many of which Vaughn alleges were denied to her. “My reign was a bumpy and difficult one because I did NOT conform to the views and opinions of administration. What the students stood for, I stood for. What the students wanted to say, I said,” claimed Vaughn.
Though the experience was different for both queens, they each offered a word of advice for future Miss Southern University candidates.
Hollins stated that being on such a platform in front of the entire student body can be stressful. “Always be yourself, remain humble, and remain positive throughout the entire experience.”
Vaughn said, “You are Miss Southern University for one year. You are yourself for a lifetime. Never compromise that for anything or anyone.”

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