Anger as white woman wins black college beauty pageant

[Beorn]

Nikole Churchill, 22, won the contest at the college town in southern Virginia, but while she was all smiles, not everyone in the community was happy about the victory, the Times reports.

As well as the walkout, Miss Churchill had to contend with scowls, rather than the traditional sunny smiles, when she posed for a portrait with the runners up. All nine of the other contestants in the competition were black.

The following day Miss Churchill was heckled at a college football game and a previous Miss Hampton University said she was "very shocked" there was a white winner. "We've never had one before," Patrece Parson said.
In response, Miss Churchill, whose father is from Guam, wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama, saying: "I feel as though you could relate to my situation.

"I am sad to say that my crowning was not widely accepted . . . the true reason for the disapproval was because of the colour of my skin.
"I am not African-American."
The letter also caused offence, with Brittany Riddock, a second-year student, telling The Washington Post there was "no comparison between a black man becoming President and a white woman winning a beauty pageant at a black school".

Hampton University, at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, is one of more than 80 historically black colleges in the US whose student populations are only gradually coming to reflect the diversity they exist to promote, largely because non-blacks have been slow to apply to them.

Source

Apparently you can't be racist towards white people!

[Ulf]

To be fair, she was probably the prettiest one there.

[Ulf]

[Atlas]

Some very beautiful black woman can be errr, okay, still I'd rather take a whole average European chick.

Congrats to her.

[anonymaus]

She isn't white, she's hapa.

When Barack Obama left Hawaii to go to college at Occidental College, he quickly abandoned Hawaii's broadly favorable cultural attitude toward 'mixed' marriages in order to embrace "authentic black experience"

...

...let's meet the newly minted beauty queen, Nikole Churchill who, like Obama, grew up in Hawaii and upon leaving for college for the first time encounters racial attitudes on the Mainland.

...

Nikole Churchill is hapa (Hawaiian for 'mixed'), so why is she labeled "white" by AP?

source

[la bombe]

I don't understand why anyone would take their anger out on the girl who won. She didn't choose herself, it was up to the panel of judges and if there aren't any rules stating that non-whites can't compete, there's nothing stopping the judges from choosing a non-black contestant. Heckling her for something she couldn't control makes no sense.

And anyway, the fact that institutions of higher-learning still support ridiculous beauty pageants is the most disturbing thing of all about this story IMO.

[Allenson]

She isn't white, she's hapa.

I was thinking that she doesn't look allwhite.

[Absinthe]

I was thinking that she doesn't look allwhite.

Or beautiful.

[ikki]

But the competition esp on the far-right... lol

[Beorn]

Or beautiful.

I wouldn't say that. She still has beauty.

Here's the letter to Obama in full too. Very heart wrenching stuff

Aloha Mr. Obama!
My name is Nikole Churchill, a senior nursing major at Hampton University. This past Friday October 9, 2009, I was honored to be crowned Miss Hampton University 2009-2010. It truly was the best night of my life! With that being said, I am sad to say that my crowning was not widely accepted and many negative comments regarding my win have been shared throughout my campus.
It would be much easier to say that possibly some were not accepting of the news because I wasn’t the most qualified contestant; however, the true reason for the disapproval was because of the color of my skin. I am not African American. Despite the unfortunate beliefs that some are saying I should not have won, I am desperately trying to focus on those who believe in me and support me and my goal to represent this beautiful, multicultural campus the very best way that I can. I would love your help!
I am hoping that perhaps you would be able to make an appearance to my campus, Hampton University, so that my fellow Hamptonians can stop focusing so much on the color of my skin and doubting my abilities to represent, but rather be proud of the changes our nation is making towards accepting diversity. People are even nicknaming me, “lil Obama” because of various reasons. This is truly an honor as well!
I am also from Hawaii (Wahiawa) and I am hoping that you can assist me in opening some closed minds and help share some aloha spirit throughout my campus. I feel as though you could relate to my situation, which is why I immediately wanted to contact you. I was interviewed last night at the HU vs. HU football game by news channel 13 and I mentioned how individuals such as you and myself are making changes in hopes people can stop placing so much focus on our skin color by letting that define what we can, cannot, should, and/or should not do. Dr. Harvey welcomed me last night to the family with open arms and I was beyond honored when he told me that he is behind me 100%. I am proud to represent Hampton University and I am so proud having you to represent our home, our country. Your support with my crowning as Miss Hampton University 2009-2010 would be graciously appreciated. Please reply, I will be looking forward to it!
-Nikole Churchill