Miss Juneteenth MN State Pageant

For over four decades, Minnesota has celebrated Juneteenth, honoring the rich legacy and enduring spirit of Black culture. In 2024, Angel Tyree made history by hosting the inaugural Miss Juneteenth MN State Pageant—a groundbreaking event that marked a new chapter in community celebration and empowerment. All government officials, city state councilmembers, state representatives all approved of this accomplishment. Governor Tim Walz and Lt Governor Peggy Flanagan both gave certificates acknowledging our Miss Juneteenth winners as royalty.

The Miss Juneteenth MN State Pageant Organization is a non-profit 501(c)(3) whose primary objective is to create a platform that will provide and expose girls, teens, and young adults to educational, networking, and career opportunities. In addition, Miss Juneteenth will provide scholarships, awards, gifts, and other prizes. 

These young ladies will participate in a variety of workshops focused on enhancing self-esteem, confidence, and overcoming obstacles. They will acquire tools that will assist them with navigating through life positively, productively, and respectfully. The pageant’s theme, "Rediscovering our Culture and Redefining our Freedom,” clearly aligns with these goals and objectives.

 The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture website explains Juneteenth as “…On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free. This day came to be known as Juneteenth, now officially a federal holiday. Juneteenth is a time to celebrate, gather as a family, reflect on the past and look to the future…” 

This overview is incorporated into the sessions and serves as the underpinning of the Miss Juneteenth Minnesota pageant. Our goal is to encourage the contestants to aspire to become quality public speakers, embrace their diversity, understand their self-worth, improve their poise, and gain an understanding that beauty resides within them. 

One of the ways we fulfill our mission is by assisting them to become more aware of their mental health. This is accomplished by not only helping them understand the impact social demands have on beauty but also helping them to be freed from social struggles due to their differences and, subsequently, reduce their anxiety and insecurity or the desire to fit in and/or to be noticed. 

To accomplish these amazing goals, we are seeking your support. As a supporter, you will be an integral part of helping us make the Miss Juneteenth MN State Pageant another groundbreaking, historical, and true success this year and into the future. 

Proceeds from both the event and sponsorship will help support Miss Juneteenth Minnesota’s initiatives for mental health awareness, resources, services, opportunities and various workshops.