One of the oldest HBCUs in the country is speaking out following a controversial pageant result.
Spelman College made headlines recently when for the first time in their history, named two contestants as Co-Miss Spelman for the 2026-27 academic year.
Juniors Jillian Collier and Kinsley Wilson were both named Miss Spelman following a scoring miscalculation.
The Miss Spelman pageant scoring system consists of a pre-pageant interview, performance and artistic expression, a question-and-answer portion, presentation and community achievement, and an overall composite score.
Wilson was originally crowned Miss Spelman, but a review of the scoring found a technical error. When the scores were recalculated, Collier had the higher score.
The decision has been the subject of intense debate in recent days, prompting the college to release a statement Thursday, requesting kindness for all involved as the university pauses social media activity for the day.
“Our students are not just pageant contestants; they are our daughters and our sisters,” the statement reads in part. “We invite our alumnae and the broader community to follow our example. We ask that you treat one another with the kindness and grace that Spelman is known for.”
