Carole Anne-Marie Gist: The First Black Miss USA

By Kourtney Raymonvil

Carole Ann-Marie Gist, the first African American Miss USA, was born in 1969 on May 8th to Joan Gist and David Turner. As a woman of African and Cherokee heritage, Miss Gist's achievements were truly astonishing. Considering how modern society still has not appreciated black beauty to the extent it should be appreciated, Miss Gist won with her elegance in a time when the black value was deeply undervalued, under respected, and misunderstood. Possibly the height relaxers, threading, and colorism. It has been Thirty-one years since her win and these problems still face the black community today. In perseverance of all that Miss Gist was still able to win Miss USA a competition of beauty and intelligence. Miss Gist still lives passionately, competitively, unapologetically, and happily till this day preaching healing in her books and furthering her education so she will be in a spot where she can help others.

Miss Gist won Miss Michigan USA in 1989 then went further on to win Miss USA in 1990.

Texans had previously won Miss USA 5 years in a row and Miss Gist was able to turn the tide in a time when black people were still known as blacks. The Miss USA pageant has been held for 70 years, since 1952, and for 38 years a Black woman had never won. Miss Gist's win was not just important because she was a Black woman but because her background was not ideal. Miss Gist grew up in Motor City, Detroit, a city where she would jump out of garages in proof of her toughness, and divorced parents. Miss Gist needs to be applauded not only for her beauty and strength but also for her intelligence. Miss Gist attended Cass Technical High School and at the time of her win was a junior at Northwood University studying marketing. Miss Gist presents herself as an extremely hard worker and currently has two associate degrees and a dual bachelor's degree from Northwood, two master's degrees, one in sports admin and one in Kinesiology. In the Thirty-one years since the pageant Miss Gist has worked several jobs all befitting her competitive nature and talents in the arts.

The pageant life is tough with constant judgment and impact on self-esteem, but Miss Gist is quite known for positivity.

In an Interview with Jets magazine shortly after her win, Miss Gist stated “Hopefully the Lord’s eyes will be upon me again. I am going there with the attitude that I have a chance because I’m just as qualified as the other girls.” Although both her parents were involved in her life Miss Gist grew up in a single-parent home. Her family struggled financially so she could not do all the things she wanted like singing, dancing, and playing instruments like piano and violin. She did not have as much preparation as the other girls, but she was able to recognize that everyone was equal and worked just as hard as everyone else. She was able to use her resources although limited and create her own legacy. 

Miss Gist should be remembered as one of the biggest impacts of Black beauty movements in America.

She is a woman of grace, poise intelligence, and persistence. Not only is she a role model in the Eurocentric desired view but also to many black girls who face money issues, a divorce between their parents, and girls who regularly compared themselves to other races. She faced the world as a black woman from Motor city, Michigan and became Miss USA of 1990.