Contestants at the African Student Union Scholarship Pageant traced their roots to about five different countries but emphasized the importance of uniting cultures during a two-hour show at the Reitz Union Rion Ballroom Thursday night.
About 100 people attended the pageant. Nichole Armah was crowned Miss ASU and Lesford Duncan was crowned Mr. ASU. Both walked away with a $150 scholarship.
Director Courtney Hubbard said the theme of this year's pageant, "The Missing Piece," emphasized its goal of providing the audience with a knowledge and awareness of African culture they may have lacked before the event.
Armah, a freshman applied physiology and kinesiology major, said the theme represented the idea of bringing people together in a world where they tend to fend for themselves.
"The missing piece is the people that act beyond themselves that are able to lend a helping hand to help people in their community," Armah said.
As Miss ASU, Armah said she hopes to reach out and work with other UF cultural student groups and volunteer in the U.S. and Africa.
Contestants also modeled clothes representing their native countries and showed off their talents. They also had to share their opinion about what the concept of the missing piece meant to them.
Polly Sanchez-Martinez stepped onto the stage and held a Haitian flag in one hand and a Dominican Republic flag in the other to represent her heritage. She then handed the flags to the two shirtless men who accompanied her, and they wrapped the flags around their waists. The audience cheered as Martinez removed her jacket and threw it to the men.
Duncan, a senior biology major, danced onto the stage sporting dreadlocks and a Jamaican flag cape to show off his heritage.
During the talent portion, he took a more serious tone sharing a Bible verse and preaching about God. He used his performance to encourage audience members to help others.
"This is my calling," Duncan said. "This is what God gave me as a talent."
Other talent performances included a spoken-word recitation by Sanchez-Martinez, a skit and poetry reading from Tola Ilegbusi, a basketball video from Kola Akinduro and a hair-styling demonstration from Armah.
Paul Alcius, a senior microbiology major, attended the event. He said he liked how the contestants embraced their cultures, which some people are ashamed to do.
"But I think that it's good to recognize your roots and stay true to yourself, and that's what everybody did tonight," Alcius said.
