Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Inadvertent trailblazer Joye Forrest is the first black Miss Teen Missouri United States. She studies dance at the California Institute of the Arts and was awarded the school’s Sharon Disney Lund Scholarship, named for Walt’s daughter.
• It was later [after the pageant]. My mom was, like, “Joye, you know you’re the only black girl who’s been crowned.” I had no idea when I won! It blew my mind, because it’s 2015, but I was also just in shock. It’s such an honor and a blessing to think, “I actually made history.”
• I decided to compete for the title because it was a year of turmoil, sadness, and hurt in Missouri.
• I wanted to help the community, and a title gives you much more leeway to do that. I think it brought some positive light; everywhere I go, people are excited about it. It’s awesome to make people happy at a time like that.
• Our community needs someone to help kids figure out what steps to take to achieve their dreams.
• I just started with pageants. I got a letter in the mail my senior year about [National American Miss Missouri], and my mom said, “Let’s do it!” I literally just winged it.
• What it really takes to win a pageant is knowing you are your biggest competition. It’s really not about who comes out winning, but it’s about knowing you tried your best to show the world what you have to offer—period.
• All of the women I’ve met in pageants have a message. Everybody is put on this world for a reason. Some people talk about issues like suicide or adoption… It gets deep.
• A normal day is waking up and saying, “OK, I want to help change people’s lives today… How can I do that?” It’s like I wanted to be a superhero and now I kind of am to the youth. I let kids have my number or Facebook message me: If they’re in distress, confused, or even just need a friend, I want them to have somebody to talk to.
• I’m everywhere. I built a football field with the Rams and handed out 500 backpacks to kids in need with the Chiefs. There’s lots of taking pictures, signing autographs, and talking to kids, which is so fun.
• My dad’s a pastor. I grew up a church baby, but I don’t think I knew what it all meant until I did mission work in Mexico. It’s the place where I got saved and dedicated my life to Christ. Two years ago, I did more mission and charity work in Ghana with my mom.
• Little kids are so sweet. They’re, like, “Oh my gosh, do you live in a castle? Do you know Cinderella? Do you have a carriage?” Not quite! But you want to keep fostering their imagination, so I told them I was going back to California to meet Cinderella at Disneyland.
