Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kyla Wright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kyla, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

Pageantry started over a decade ago, and its sole purpose was simply about beauty. How well styled one’s hair was, how good she looked in a swimsuit, her smile – very cut and dry. It wasn’t until half a decade later that women who looked like me, Black women, were even admitted into the world of pageantry. Since then, pageantry has diversified and stood beyond putting women and their bodies on display, contrary to popular belief. Different pageant systems –Miss North America, Miss USA and Miss America are all different “systems” – seek different things. So, while Miss USA still has an on-stage swimsuit portion, Miss America does not, and Miss North America allows contestants to choose between swim or activewear on-stage. Most systems, though, seek contestants who are active in their communities, making strides academically, and are more than “a pretty face.” This is why I take every opportunity to educate others about what goes into pageantry, the hard work and dedication it entails and continue to allow my reign to speak for itself; because the truth is, pageant queens aren’t just our crowns and sashes. We have community service initiatives, are role models, trendsetters, and career-focused women seeking to make greater impact beyond smiling and waving. But, I also recognize that if people don’t know, we cannot fault them for being unaware, that’s when we show, we tell, and encourage them to learn more about pageantry, as we, too, had to when we took our first step into something we were unfamiliar with.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Kyla L. Wright. I am a graduate of Hampton University (B.A. Journalism) and Syracuse University (M.A. Magazine, Newspaper and Online Journalism; Sports Media and Communications Emphasis) and am currently a first-year Ph.D. student in Information and Media at Michigan State University. I am a native of Detroit, Michigan and am a product of the Detroit Public School System. I am a multi-title pageant queen, and most recently, I was crowned Miss North America in July 2024, in Orlando, Florida. I am a serial entrepreneur; the founder of Kyla L. Wright Enterprises, a digital marketing company focused on copywriting, social media management and branding for businesses; The K’Luxe Experience, a vegan cosmetic and accessories brand; and co-founder of Ninotchka & Co., a custom design business that I founded with my mom.

While I wear many hats in my personal and professional life, currently I’m most proud of winning Miss North America a few months ago. It wasn’t an easy journey and was one full of trials and tribulation and makes me grateful for my resilience. My first pageant was in the eighth grade, in a pageant for my middle school, which I won, and credit for giving me what us pageant girls call “the pageant bug:” once you start, you can’t stop. Although I didn’t compete in another pageant again until college, I always knew it was in me. I consecutively competed for three years, took a three year break and then competed in four additional pageants over a three year span before I competed in and won my biggest title to date – an international title – Miss North America.

I remember hearing another pageant queen (Miss Ohio USA 2022, Sir’Quora Carroll) once say, “pageantry is to serve, not to be served,” and that’s always been inside of me, but the eloquence in how it was stated always stuck with me. I always jump at opportunities to serve; whether it’s volunteering at a local organization, mentoring youth, hosting an event, giving a speech, serving as an organization’s ambassador, visiting schools, hosting a meet-and-greet or anything in between. Being an international titleholder is especially fitting for me, considering that I’ve loved travel since I was a child, so traveling across North America to serve may seem like a taxing duty, but it’s fun for me, and that’s how I know it’s my purpose.

While I serve in any capacity that I can, my personal community service initiative or “platform,” as we call them in pageantry, is entitled Operation S.A.S.H.: Sexual Assault Stops Here; a call to action: to Stop secrecy, demand Accountability, offer Support and Healing for survivors of sexual assault of all ages. My goal is to work with organizations that assist survivors, schools and other community members to break the stigma surrounding sexual assault. I’m currently in the process of getting Operation S.A.S.H. approved as a 501(c)(3) organization so that I can expand my reach, and receive funding opportunities for programming, assistance and other services.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My entire journey through pageantry has been one of resilience, and pageantry within itself is the definition of such; because when you decide to enter a pageant, it’s you versus as few as five to as many as a hundred (even more) contestants. And the reality is, every one is talented, smart, accomplished, and beautiful, but there can only be one winner. And seven times over, I was among the vast majority of girls whose stomachs would drop once the semi-finalists, finalists or even the winner was called, and your name wasn’t the one that the host announced. The majority hoping and praying that “this time” would be “that time,” but it wasn’t. The majority that wondered what she could’ve done differently on stage or said differently in her interview with the judges. But even as I would wonder, and pray, and admittedly cry about the outcome seemingly not going in my favor, I realize that every “L” doesn’t have to signify a loss; instead I take them as lessons, among other “L”‘s. Learning from more experienced competitors; leaning on family and friends for support; remembering the legacy I want to leave – no matter the crown, and lastly, loving myself and every part of the journey.

Each pageant was a humbling, eye-opening, new experience that equipped me with the tools for pageant number eight. After being crowned Miss Michigan North America 2024, I had to prepare for the international Miss North America Pageant. Unfortunately, shortly after, receiving the title, I was in a serious car accident that left me with several broken bones, other injuries and on disability from my full-time job, which at the time was as the Brand Journalist for a Detroit-based Sports and Entertainment family of companies, the Ilitch Companies. My mom had to hold my hand for me to walk from one end of the house to another, so I had no idea how I was going to be on a pageant stage in a little less than a year.

Not strictly for the benefit of the pageant goal I had in mind, but with the intention to recover and return back to life as I once knew it, I dedicated myself to my healing journey. I was in physical therapy three times a week, had a team of orthopedic and pain management doctors among others, and increased my talk therapy sessions to weekly versus monthly. My schedule was trying. I was constantly tired – physically and mentally – but something in me said that this was nothing but a test that was soon to turn into a testimony. I’m so proud that I didn’t give up when I wanted to. That I allowed my tears to water the seeds of growth. That I was patient with myself during this unpredictable journey. Although, to date, I’m still physically (and even mentally) recovering from this traumatic event, I’m still in awe that I had the strength within to step on the stage even when I didn’t feel my best. I would step onstage in my heels and immediately kick them off backstage and do my “at home” physical therapy stretches for my back, hip and knee. I’d complain backstage and then step onto the stage as if I was 100 percent; and even though I don’t think I was 100 on stage, my attitude was, and that’s what showed and that’s one of the reasons I’d like to think the judges selected me to be Miss North America 2024. Honestly, if that isn’t a story of resilience, I don’t know what is.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Beauty isn’t monolithic. Society has an idea of what beauty should look like, which isn’t fair to young girls, or adult women. One of my selected topics of study and research during my Ph.D. program is about how Eurocentric beauty standards translate to sense of self among Black women, specifically in the way that we style our hair. This topic was inspired by my pageant journey. The first five pageants I competed in, I straightened my hair, but that’s not my every day look. Which was okay, but the reasoning wasn’t. The reason I straightened my hair was because that’s what I thought would’ve been best digested by the audience and judges, not because I wanted to. I normally wear my hair in it’s natural, curly state, but at the time I didn’t think that was “enough” for the stage. We’re often taught outwardly and subtly that straight hair, wigs, weaves and extensions are the key to looking beautiful; but I’ve learned that if you don’t feel that way but still do it to conform to societal norms, then you’re just continuing that cycle to push that narrative.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my natural hair. But at the time I didn’t think it should be seen on large stages, like a pageant stage. I’d tell younger me, or anyone who feels that way that you’re mistaken, and you have time to see why. My hair is me, and no one can take it away from me. Every coil, kink, and curl is mine and I love it. Beauty is about how you radiate, not how you choose to wear your hair because of the potential perception or comfortability it’ll give to others; because if you aren’t comfortable, no one will be. It’ll show.

“You always wear your hair curly, so why not wear it that way on stage?” I’ll never forget my pageant coach, Ivy, asking me this and I was confused at the question. Why wouldn’t I? I thought. But the more I sat on it and thought about it, the more her question made sense. I presented this way on a daily basis, so what is the issue showing your true self on stage? Because if I were to win the crown, I’m not going to keep up the straightened hair look for a year, because that’s just not me. I love my curls or braids, especially because my straightened hair doesn’t get along with outside, no matter the weather. That was year one that I wore my natural hair on stage and I was more confident than I’d ever been. Two years later I wore my hair curly on stage, and not only did I walk on the stage wearing my natural crown, I walked off the stage with the Miss North America crown.

Contact Info:

• Website: northamericabeautypageant.com / kylawrites.com
• Instagram: officialmissnorthamerica / kylawrightmedia
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kylalwright
• Twitter: kylawrightmedia
• Other: email: [email protected] bookings: linktr.ee/missnorthamerica24

Image Credits
1st photo (studio) only – Teresa Alvarez/TJ Alvarez Media