About Us

Who Are We?

Miss Juneteenth Texas Pageants are MORE than just beauty pageants!

We are a volunteer led pageantry organization open to young ladies ages 5 to 18 years old, who are residents of the Austin, Central Texas and Texas region. Not only do we host our amazing and elegant annual Juneteenth pageants, we also provide mentorship programs, promote youth empowerment and teach history, culture and the importance of community service and education by providing scholarships through pageantry for the young ladies within our region.

We Pageant with Purpose!

Our contestants are assessed in the areas of evening gown, platforms, talent, interviews and on stage questionnaire. The winners of Miss Juneteenth Pageants (Queen Title), will be invited to represent the Miss Juneteenth Texas organization, Austin/Central Texas and state of Texas in the national Miss Juneteenth preliminaries and Pageant, if eligibility requirements are met. The title holders will also receive a glamorous prize package, scholarship and the opportunity of a lifetime!

Are you ready to be the next Miss Juneteenth Queen?

Mission & Vision

Miss Juneteenth Texas' mission and vision is to encourage our youth to have self confidence, high self esteem through empowerment and mentorship. To educate our youth about their history, culture. To educate them on the importance of community service, sisterhood and education by providing scholarships through pageantry and to promote and increase cultural awareness within our community.

History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.

Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes on a more national, symbolic and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten.

On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday!

Meet Our Founder

Tanisha Barnett, Founder

Meet Tanisha Barnett. She is the award-winning CEO of NHT & Co. Tanisha is a wife, mother of two and a serial Entrepreneur. She has a professional career background and experience in Pharmacy, Business Management and a deep passion for Horticulture and Pageantry. Tanisha is the State of Texas Pageant Director for the Miss Juneteenth Texas organization. She has been a pageant queen since the age of 14 years old. Tanisha has been crowned Queen and holds several pageantry titles, including the title of

Miss Juneteenth Austin 2007.

Tanisha has been involved with the Miss Juneteenth Pageants starting in her youth, 16 years ago as a contestant. She is the current Pageant Director for the Austin/Central Texas and Texas region. Mrs. Barnett received an Outstanding Leadership award for her community service efforts in Austin, TX by the NAACP, She has presented at America's Biggest Business Networking and Educational Event, The Small Business Expo. and highlighted as one of the top 250 Most influential African Americans in Central Texas.

"Pageants are a growing trend in celebrating the #Juneteenth holiday. Tanisha Barnett, the State of Texas Founder and Pageant Director for the Miss Juneteenth Texas Scholarship Pageant says that pageants are a way to educate young black women about their history and celebrate their unique beauty."

-BNC News

Meet Our Team

Kennede Wallace

Miss Juneteenth Austin Queen

Kennede Wallace is the 2019 Reigning Queen of the Miss Juneteenth Austin Pageant.

She will be preparing to advance to nationals this fall.

Shay Andry

Stage Coordinator

Shukriyah Andry a.k.a Shay Andry, is a Fashion Model in Austin, TX. She works with the Model Resource Services, a company that trains, prepares and hosts fashion events through out Austin, TX.

Annie Cokley

Beauty Coordinator

Annie is a Licensed Cosmetologist & Educator who owns her own salon in Austin, TX. She loves to curate community events and is the Founder of Austin's annual event Beauty Over Bruises, where she advocates and brings awareness to domestic violence.