Ciera Nicole Crowned Miss Maryland United States 2013

Baltimorean Ciera Nicole Butts, 22, was crowned Miss Maryland United States 2013 on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Frederick, Maryland. Ciera will represent Maryland in the Miss United states pageant, which is to be held in July 2013. In addition to prepping for the national pageant, Ciera will spend a year serving the community and promoting her platform of youth mentorship. She feels it is important to help guide young adults on the right path, especially those in the inner city where she grew up. Ciera made her first appearance three days after her crowning at the Baltimore Ravens' victory celebration parade at M&T Bank Stadium. There she celebrated her home team's Super Bowl win with her community. Follow Ciera of Twitter at @MissMDUS or like her on facebook http://www.facebook.com/MissMarylandUnitedStates2013 Below is Ciera's Bio. Ciera was born on October 22 in Baltimore, Maryland where she attended Baltimore City College High School, a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. While attending high school, Ciera was actively involved in the SGA, serving as president of her class all four years, City Sisters, and The Baltimore City College Catwalk Models. At the age of 14, Ciera became very passionate about modeling, which motivated her to become actively involved in the fashion industry.  In an effort to serve the community, Ciera was involved in a community-based modeling organization called Elite Icons. As President of Elite Icons, Ciera and her team coordinated annual fashion shows, which served as esteem building activities and commodious productive work areas, which kept teens away from inner city violence, and helped motivate teens to continue their ambitions.  Upon Graduating from Baltimore City College High School, Ciera began her undergraduate studies at Marymount University in Arlington, VA where she earned her Bachelors of Arts Degree. While at Marymount, Ciera was heavily involved in a number of organizations, including The L.I.S.T. (Ladies Inspiring Strength for Tomorrow), which Ciera established and served as President and Vice President, the Head Public Relations Officer for the Marymount University Fashion Department, and a member of the Black Student Alliance.  As a resident in the D.C. Metropolitan area, Ciera was able undergo hands on experience working for various events, organizations, and companies such as: Men Against Breast Cancer, Becky's Fund, Luke's Wings, Key to the Cure, The Prom Dress Project, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Isaac Mizrahi, Christian Siriano, Lela Rose, Neiman Marcus, The Washington Humane Society, Chic Communications, The Aba Agency, Saks Fifth Avenue and more. With the drive to pursue self entrepreneurship, Ciera and a close friend started their own company called, The Aristocracy Inc. The Aristocracy Inc. was a company that provided fashion event planning services, image consulting and demonstrated commitment to the fashion industry by hosting an annual fashion showcase. There Ciera was able to exercise her event planning and public relations skills while in college. In the spring of 2012, Ciera along with the creative minds of her fellow peers, produced the fourth annual Voyage to Utopia fashion show, a show that impressed the Marymount University community like never before. The show created a legacy by setting the standards high for many years to follow. The fourth annual Voyage to Utopia fashion show was the first year that established the Voyage to Utopia Scholarship Fund and supported the KaKenya's Dream Foundation. As an Event Management and Public Relations Professional, Ciera has developed a strong foundation in special events and brand building communications. As a graduate from Marymount University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Communications, she soon plans to further her education by attaining a Masters in Communications Arts. She then plans to later operate her own Special Events Firm; specializing in fashion related and entertainment clientele.  Ciera was recently employed by ROCHE in New York City as the Production Coordinator of New York Fashion Shows. Before She was employed by ROCHE she had the opportunity to intern with IMG - Fashion Events as the Public Relations and Marketing Intern. There she was given the opportunity to assist on all tasks of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Public Relations and Marketing office and managed the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Press and Industry list.  Ciera Also works free-lance with Maryland Based Designer, Courtney M. Roberts as the Event Coordinator in coordination with Roberts' Fashion Events.  Ciera is an advocate for youth empowerment, confidence building, and scholastic achievement of young adults. She believes that confidence is a key essential for success. Ciera lives by two statements: "Have no regrets. See everything as a learning experience." "Always have confidence because insecurity will not get you anywhere!"

Diversity Does Matter, But Now in a Bad Way???

Recently, Essence magazine appointed Lilianna Placas as the new Fashion Editor. Doesn't seem like much of a big deal right, WRONG! This is indeed a HUGE deal. WHY? Ms. Lilianna is a white woman.
Essence Magazine is extremely involved in the life of African American Women and by doing so, the magazine "celebrates, empowers and inspires Black Women to be bold and beautiful." Knowing that Essence magazine stands for those things, it troubles some people to figure out why would such a magazine appoint a position that dictates the fashion of BLACK WOMEN to a WHITE WOMAN. People are criticizing Ms. Placas and stating that she is inadequate of this position because she "can not fully comprehend a black woman's often-fraught relationship with her hair, body and sexuality -- as her feelings about her appearance sometimes carry the echoes of history and racism. And finally, there was the unspoken irritation that once again, in the beauty competition, white trumped black -- this time, on the home court,"(Givhan - Washington Post).

Yes this is a very valid point, but why should we Criticize her for that reason? In the hiring process of this position, I am sure there were many other qualified people who were considered but, there had to have been something about Ms. Placas to make her stand out amongst the rest; and i do NOT mean her skin color. Before she was offered this position, She was a freelancer in the fashion department for six months, therefore she was not new to the company.

Second, why would such a magazine take a risk at hiring someone who they feel is in inadequate to complete a job in its business. On the September issue of Essence, Iman, Naomi Campbell and Liya Kebede are featured on the cover and they look fabulous. Not only do they look great but all the fashion featured in the issue corresponds. So apparently she is not that inadequate huh?

Third, if people are so for adding diversity to VOGUE, why are people not for Essence? It does not make any sense to me as to why when a black person is placed on the cover of VOGUE or if he or she has a high position in the company, it is praise worthy. But on the other hand, the situation is vice versa and people look down upon it and criticize.

Fourth, How is it that a white woman can not comprehend and black women's relationship to her hair, body and sexuality nor her feelings that sometimes carry echos of history and racism, when in THIS INDUSTRY, THE FASHION INDUSTRY have MEN who design and dictate and they neither can comprehend those things. It's the same thing right, but it's perfectly fine in that case.

Am I the only one who sees this?
What do you guys think?