Annette Adu Yobo has some accessories that most women don’t have in their closets: a bejeweled crown and sash.
“It’s very sturdy,” Addo Yobo said as she removed it from the glass box. “I was with Miss America over the weekend.”
Adu-Yobo made history when she was crowned Miss Texas earlier this month.
“I am the first immigrant-born Miss Texas and the first Ghanaian to win the title,” Addo Yobo said.
Addo Yobo immigrated to the United States from Ghana as a toddler and became a citizen two years ago, making her eligible to compete in pageants, first winning Miss Dallas, then Miss Southlake and then Miss Texas.
She wants young girls and women who look at her to see more than just a crown.
“It’s just reframing the conversation to show that immigrants are hard workers. I’m getting my second master’s degree and will be attending law school after I finish as Miss Texas,” Addo-Yobo said. “I think the real message is that this organization is an organization that empowers all women to be leaders. That’s the mission of Miss America, and that woman can look like anyone, be like me, be like you or be like your neighborhood ‘Susie Q.'”
For Adu-Yobo, it looked like Nia Imani Franklin, who was crowned Miss America in 2019.
“When I saw that Nia Imani Franklin was crowned Miss America, that was a really big thing for me because at that time there was also a black Miss USA and a black Miss Universe,” Addo Yobo said, “so it just made it that much more achievable, so it wasn’t just a dream at that point, but I’d seen it come true and I knew I could do it.”
Adu Yobo hopes those following in her footsteps will see the same thing and know that they too can turn their dreams into reality.
A cornerstone of Adu-Yobo’s reign as Miss Texas is raising awareness about autism through Project SPARK. She said her brother has autism spectrum disorder and she wants to help others become autism advocates.
As Miss Texas, Adu Yobo will compete for the Miss America title next year.
