Lekenya Dalcour, a sophmore from Thornwood studying psychology, smiles after being crowned Miss Eboness 2012. The annual pageant, presented by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, started at the university as the first pageant in southern Illinois for black women and has since been nationally adopted by Alpha Phi Alpha as the Black and Gold Pageant. Contest winners receive a $500 scholarship as well as the honor of holding the Miss Eboness title. Laura Roberts-Daily Egyptian

Photo taken by Laura Roberts of the Daily Egyptian