I competed in pageants. I know what these wins mean
![I competed in pageants. I know what these wins mean](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/191209152216-black-beauty-pageant-winners-split.jpg?q=w_1600,h_900,x_0,y_0,c_fill)
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/191216085850-miss-america-miss-universe-miss-usa-interview-cnn-erica-hill.jpg?q=w_1920,h_1080,x_0,y_0,c_fill)
I competed in pageants. I know what these wins mean
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160919111612-exp-african-american-musem-opening-00002001.jpg?q=x_0,y_0,h_1080,w_1919,c_fill/h_144,w_256)
This new Netflix miniseries let me down, then made me think
![](https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/c_fill,g_auto,w_1200,h_675,ar_16:9/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F200113170730-romance-novel-stock.jpg)
Not much love now in world of romance writers
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/charlotte-tilbury-holiday.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_144,w_256,c_fill)
This new Netflix miniseries let me down, then made me think
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/191208221805-01-miss-universe-2019.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
How Miss Universe's historic win helped shift the status quo for beauty standards
![](https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/c_fill,g_auto,w_1200,h_675,ar_16:9/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F191209152216-black-beauty-pageant-winners-split.jpg)
I competed in pageants. I know what these wins mean
![](https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/200318122700-self-made-octavia-spencer-medium-plus-169.jpg)
This new Netflix miniseries let me down, then made me think
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/200806223529-miss-universe-pageant-file-120819.jpg?q=x_207,y_115,h_679,w_1206,c_crop/w_800)
How Miss Universe's historic win helped shift the status quo for beauty standards
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/453lindseychou.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_144,w_256,c_fill)
Not much love now in world of romance writers
![](https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/191202094445-gabrielle-union-medium-plus-169.jpg)
I competed in pageants. I know what these wins mean
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/200113134018-courtney-milan-headshot.jpg?q=w_1600,h_1189,x_0,y_0,c_fill)
Not much love now in world of romance writers
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/200806151933-06-zozibini-tunzi.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
How Miss Universe's historic win helped shift the status quo for beauty standards
![](https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/191215134701-hallmark-same-sex-advertisement-backlash-medium-plus-169.jpg)
Not much love now in world of romance writers
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/200325145353-self-made-madam-cj-walker-netflix.jpg?q=x_4,y_72,h_2021,w_3592,c_crop/h_833,w_1480)
This new Netflix miniseries let me down, then made me think
![](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/200806123740-miss-universe-file.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
How Miss Universe's historic win helped shift the status quo for beauty standards