HOLLYWOOD — The Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant, a nonprofit organization founded by Lisa Ruffin, will hold its 31st annual event at 4 p.m. Aug. 3 at Barnsdall Art Park.
For three decades, the pageant has empowered young girls, ages 6-12, with confidence, awareness and pride, preparing them to be future leaders. This year, 30 girls from across Los Angeles will be participating.
The Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant seeks to showcase the potential of young African-American girls through an educational program that encourages individual creativity, public speaking and cultural understanding while providing a platform for young girls to demonstrate their talents and abilities while fostering a sense of community and support.
While some of the girls come from strong, supportive families, Ruffin said the majority of them come from underserved, single-family homes.
The pageant offers an early introduction to the arts and training in public speaking, while promoting individual creativity and fostering a deeper cultural understanding.
Ruffin, a multi-talented performer, said she can’t believe she has been running the pageant for 31 years.
“To me, it’s totally unbelievable,” Ruffin said. “The kids are a lot different than they were 20 and 30 years ago. It’s nice to give the kids a little bit of discipline and to have them understand why they need boundaries. Kids respond to structure. It’s going to be a good show. The kids have worked hard.”
This year, Ruffin, an NAACP Theater Awards nominee, said some of the parents will be dancing with their daughters.
“Every time we rehearse, I cry,” said Ruffin, who has performed in more than 20 countries. “It’s so touching. I choreographed an African dance number for them. All the girls love it. I have two parents who are going to be dancing with their daughters.”
This year’s event boasts a lineup of celebrity judges, including Elia Cantu (“Days of Our Lives”), Ella Joyce (“Roc”), Aaron Jennings (“Dexter: Original Sin”), Jazmine Robinson (“Family Business”), Lamon Archey (“All American”), Norman Towns (“The Affair”), Ingrid Hadley, principal and chief possibilities officer; Michelle Fisher, journalist at KABC7 Los Angeles; Loren Lott, actress and writer (“The Young and the Restless”); Stacy McBride-Irby, doll designer and creator; Kamilah Moore, reparatory justice scholar and attorney; Phillip V. Westbrooks, CEO of Spectrum Solutions; and actor James Pickens, Jr. (“Grey’s Anatomy”).
“Shaping the lives of girls and young women through scholarship, the arts, and community. Let’s celebrate them,” Pickens said.
Over the years, the pageant has awarded hundreds of scholarships and created lasting memories for its participants. The pageant awards more than $10,000 in scholarships and prizes every year.
Ruffin, who attended the Juilliard School in New York City, and came close to discontinuing the pageant at six years, 15 years, and then 30 years, is glad she decided to continue.
DD: What are your plans for the pageant?
LR: Well, I said I was definitely done at 30 years, but then the girls, my staff, their tears, and the realization that this was important and needed to continue. That’s why I said, OK, I’ll continue.
DD: What do you want the public to know about the event?
LR: I want them to come out and support our future leaders. They will learn a lot. The speeches that the girls give are amazing. The girls tell you how they feel and why.
DD: After 31 years, do you still encounter challenges?
LR: There are more challenges now. I used to have great sponsorship. Michael Jackson sponsored our whole program. We’ve previously received support from Essence, Xerox and Warner Bros. This year, I was informed that, due to diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations, some organizations chose not to sponsor us. Not the previously mentioned, but others.
DD: What do you hope to achieve with this year’s event?
LR: It’s important that parents bring their kids out. They need to be inspired. You learn things outside of the classroom. Let’s see some little girls who speak well and avoid using slang. You learn a lot in this pageant. We have the girls discuss various topics, including school shootings, organ donations and more. Tackling subjects like that is essential.
DD: Do the girls come up with their subject matter to talk about?
LR: No. I have a staff of teachers and educators, and we ask them what’s happening today? Then we go to the girls and ask them what they want to learn about.
DD: What themes or messages do you want the contestants to take away from this experience?
LR: We teach them to wear their CAP — confidence, awareness and pride. Be confident in yourself. We also emphasize the importance of reading.
DD: Who are some of your supporters?
LR: Heather Hutt — my girls go to camp in the summer for free because of her. She is always there. She comes and talks to the girls, as well as Holly Mitchell. We discuss our hair and the laws she has helped pass. These are Black women who are making things happen. They are not just names on paper. They come out and support. They put in time and energy. When people attend the event, they should also bring their children. Gene Hale has been an angel. He has taken on the role over the past couple of years to distribute scholarships.
DD: What kind of preparation and training do the contestants undergo before the pageant?
LR: They have coaches. They have speech classes and dance classes. They train. It’s an eight-week course they go through. We also do things throughout the year. We take them to cultural events. We’ve taken them to Alvin Ailey and the opera last year. One girl said, “Miss Lisa, she needs singing lessons. She doesn’t sound like Beyoncé. It’s exciting to introduce the girls to new, exciting things.”
DD: What impact has the Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant had on past contestants and their communities?
LR: We have more than 300 girls who have graduated from college. They have become doctors, lawyers, and some are in politics. They are changing the world. I feel so proud.
DD: Can you share any memorable moments or stories from past pageants that stand out to you?
LR: Way too many to say. Going to Michael Jackson’s ranch was special. The graduation cards I receive. Girls pursuing their master’s degrees at USC. When I hear that I’ve changed someone’s life, that’s a truly memorable moment.
DD: What advice would you give to young girls who may be hesitant to participate in a pageant, and how do you help them build confidence and self-esteem?
LR: If they are hesitant, that’s precisely why they need to participate. Those are the girls we want. I want them to wear their CAP. Walk through a door and don’t be afraid. Experience everything new.
DD: What message would you like to convey to the contestants, attendees and supporters of the pageant?
LR: People care about the future of our young girls. We want to make sure they are given the tools and pass them on so they can take things further.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
