Miss Michigan USA hopeful Averi Wilson
Tiaras, titles and evening gowns are no longer just for royalty. Pageants are making their return after a year of COVID and a new contestant is shaking up the typical look of a pageant Queen and showing why body positivity and representation are key on stage and in life.
Not to be confused with Miss Michigan, which is a scholarship competition, Miss Michigan USA has a rich history and legacy in pageantry. The Miss Michigan USA pageant has had tens of winners and participants in its history, but none like contestant Averi Wilson. As a full-figured competitor, this teacher by day is among the first plus-size women to enter the show. Defying the odds and breaking barriers, Wilson is redefining what it means to compete.
Unlike many of the competitors who have been groomed and have a history in pageantry, Wilson enters the Miss Michigan USA untrained, but is not deterred. Despite not having an official coach (as of yet), the race for the 2021 title is serious. From a world of fashion shows and hair, Wilson’s interest naturally grew to pageants.
“This is my first pageant but I’ve always been interested in the beauty pageant world and I’ve modeled in small fashion and hair shows but never a pageant before,” says Averi Wilson, contestant in Miss Michigan USA.
With all roads leading to Miss USA, a Detroiter taking the crown and following in the footsteps of a small, yet elite group of Black women from the city who have gone on to win it all, is monumental. Even more so in a body shape that does not receive a lot of praise.
“Being full-figured in a pageant of this magnitude is super important because, growing up, I never thought I could do something like this because I never saw my body type represented in the media in that way,” says Wilson. “I’m all about representation and showing people that you don’t have to be super tall or stick thin to compete. We’re getting judged on our poise and personality and I just hope they can see past how I look and judge me on what really matters.”
Formed in 1952, The Miss Universe Organization was formally a bathing suit contest put on by swim attire giant Catalina Swimwear. Growing to become internationally recognized, the mega house is the parent company of MISS UNIVERSE, MISS USA and MISS TEEN USA competitions. On a smaller level, the state’s local pageants help gather contestants for the main stage in the three events.
Over the course of Miss USA, Michigan has taken the crown and the title five times. Most notably in 1990, the first African American woman, Carole Gist, won followed by Kenya Moore in 1993. Never having crowned a full-sized contestant, Miss Michigan USA has an opportunity for diversity.
“I’ve gotten so much love and support since announcing I was competing and that completely caught me off guard but also reinforced that I’m doing the right thing for me and others that look like me. If someone doesn’t want to support that, it’s their loss.”
The costs of participating in a pageant race can quickly add up. The cost of dresses, hair and makeup alone can run into the thousands. Together with the registration fees and other charges associated, pageants outlays can exceed $5,000 on the low end. To help cover the fees associated with enrolling, a GoFundMe has been set up.
While the goal is to win the title and go on to compete in the national Miss USA competition, Wilson is hoping judges will be able to look beyond the gowns and competitive nature to allow a lesson in breaking the mold and allowing women of all shapes to wear the crown. Creating a safe space for other plus-size beauty queens to rise in the ranks is an example of the world’s push to shatter previous guidelines and build new ones.
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