Join Tombolo Books and the African American Heritage Association for our monthly Community Conversations Series! This month we are celebrating Women’s History Month with Minnie Killen, who championed the Miss Black St. Petersburg Scholarship Pageant!

In 1975 the first Miss Black St. Petersburg Beauty Pageant was held in the DowntownHilton’s Suncoast Ballroom. The room was packed with members of the Black community. There were eight contestants all eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winner. But a mistake by the announcer caused what was intended to be a joyous occasion into a fiasco. The original coordinator and sponsors opted to not continue the pageant and it seemed that all was lost until Minnie Killen, then Minnie Styles, stepped on the scene.

Ms. Killen directed the pageant for 17 years during which time the name of the pageant was changed to Miss Black St. Petersburg Scholarship Pageant. The contestants ranging in age from 18-25 participated in makeup sessions, etiquette classes, and training in walking and posing and were judged in a three-part competition: swimwear, talent and projection. The pageant winner received a full four-year scholarship to Bethune-Cookman College and went on to compete in the Miss Black Florida competition.

Meet Ms. Killen and learn more about the Miss Black St. Petersburg Scholarship Pageant, a little-known moment in St. Petersburg’s