Twelve women of all different shapes and sizes will grace the stage at Shryock Auditorium Friday night to display the many talents of the black women in the Miss Eboness Pageant, the sponsors of the event say.

The brothers of the Bloody Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha said they are sponsoring the 24th Annual Miss Eboness Pageant. Brother Malik Freeman said the theme of this year’s pageant is Black Woman:Mother of the Universe.

The theme relates to our belief that the black woman is our most precious jewel, Freeman said. The pageant will display the various talents of our black women.

The contestants for this year’s pageant are Cherie Barnes, Sabrina Beavers, Leah Brickhouse, Carleka Downey, Mercedes Bennett-Hurd, Jada Hutton, Delores King, Sharanda Morehead, Milinia Murray, Sherese Reed, Hazel Richardson and Ayanna Rowland.

Alfie E. Patterson, president of the chapter, said the winner of the pageant will receive a $700 scholarship award. He said first runner-up will receive the title of Miss Nefretiti; second runner-up will be crowned Miss Isis, and third runner-up will be called Miss Black and Gold.

Freeman said Miss Eboness will not be chosen on the basis of beauty.

Miss Eboness is not about who is the prettiest, he said. There are no bathing suits, and we have women of all shapes and sizes. Beauty is in no way a part of judging.

Freeman said the Miss Eboness Pageant does not exclude any culture from trying out, and he said he encourages women of any color or culture to participate in next year’s pageant.

Freeman said contestants for the pageant were chosen on the basis of a variety of talent.

A group of about four or five brothers judged the applicants on variety of talent, Freeman said. We couldn’t have too many singers, or too many dancers. We chose the best variety of talent on a point scale. If we had eight singers try out, then the girls with the most points became contestants.

The 12 contestants shared some of their views, hopes, fears, and perceptions of the Miss Eboness Pageant.

Cherie Barnes, a junior in early childhood education from Chicago, will play End of the Road by Boyz II Men on clarinet. She said being in the Miss Eboness Pageant has been a three-year goal for her.

Being in the Miss Eboness Pageant has been a dream of mine since I got here in 1992, she said. I said to myself, Cherie, you are going to do this. You are going to be in Miss Eboness.’ I had to do it. I tried out last year and didn’t make it, so I had to be in it this year.

Sabrina Beavers, a freshman in pre-medicine from Joliet, said she will sing Save the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams. She said she hopes the Miss Eboness Pageant will fulfill one of her aspirations.

I’m hoping that the experience from the Miss Eboness Pageant will be like a stepping stone, she said. Someday I want to enter the Miss America Pageant.

Leah Brickhouse, a freshman in science from Highland Park, said she will perform a hip-hop dance to Janet Jackson’s If. She said she will go out and do her best, even though she has never taken a dance class.

I’ve never had a dance class in my life, she said. But I’ve danced since I was very young. I’m basically self-taught. So I’m gonna go out there and try my best.

Carleka Downey, a freshman in radio-television from Centralia, will perform the dramatization of the life of Harriet Tubman with singing. She said that previous pageant experience is useful now that she is a contestant in the Miss Eboness Pageant.

I’ve been in pageants since my early junior high school days, since about sixth grade, Downing said. That experience allows me to help others who are new in being in pageants to learn the ropes, get a feel of the atmosphere and be more confident about themselves if they are not already confident.

Mercedes Bennett-Hurd, a freshman in radio-television from Waukegan, said she will perform a dramatic interpretation called I Am An African Woman, All That You Have Given Me Africa.

I am excited and ready to perform, she said. Rehearsals have been hard, but if you are determined they will pay off in the end. Now it’s time to see the talent and determination the Miss Eboness contestants possess.

Jada Hutton, a sophomore in physiology from Chicago, said she will sing a Natalie Cole number, I’ve Got Love on My Mind. She said she has learned the valuable lesson of not taking criticism personally.

I’ve learned how to get along with people and with different personalities, Hutton said. I’ve also learned how to take criticism without taking it to heart. They have been criticizing me to better me.

Delores King, a junior in psychology from Carbondale, said she will display several talents.

I will start out doing a skit, then piano, then I will sing, King said. The song is called No More and is off of the soundtrack I Need a Man’.

Sharanda Morehead, a sophomore in pre-medicine from Chicago, said she will perform a dramatical interpretation titled Harriet Tubman Didn’t Take No Stuff, followed by the old Negro spiritual Go Down Moses. She said the Miss Eboness prize was part of her attraction in entering the pageant.

When I first gained knowledge of the pageant, the first thing I heard about was a $700 scholarship, she said. That’s what really drew me towards the pageant to be honest. I really could use the money towards my academic scholarship because I wouldn’t have to worry about where tuition for the next semester will come from.

Milinia Murray, an undecided sophomore from Chicago, said she will interpret a poem entitled Ego Tripping. She said the atmosphere throughout the rehearsals for the pageant has offered her the opportunity to acquaint herself with people.

I’ve made a lot of new acquaintances and I love the fact that I get to interact with other peers of, above, and below my age, she said. I’ve had the chance to really let go and enjoy myself with the other contestants and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. They’re a bunch of really great guys.

Sherese Reed, a junior in healthcare management, said she will perform a modern jazz dance to an XScape song, Who Can I Run To. She said a competitive edge has not been present during rehearsals and that winning is not the most important thing.

It doesn’t matter who wins because we’re all in this together, she said. I’m going to cheer for whoever wins. If not me, then by all means I’m gonna be out there cheering the winner on.

Hazel Richardson, a junior in forensic science from Chicago, said she will perform a combination of song, drama and dance. She said she became a part of the pageant because of its representation of the black woman.

I wanted to be a part of the Miss Eboness Pageant because it is very positive, Richardson said. It is a positive way to show that there are strong, black women on the campus.

Ayanna Rowland, a freshman in marketing from Springfield, said she will rely upon personal experience to help convey the message in the song she will sing.

I will be singing a song by Mariah Carey called Hero’, she said. I will dedicate the song to my late aunt, who was murdered. I think that if I dedicate it to her, it will help me to get more into the song get emotional with it.

The Miss Eboness Pageant will be held Saturday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. in Shryock Auditorium. Tickets are $8 in advance, and $10 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at Shryock Auditorium from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.