At age twelve Point Park senior Melessie Clark entered her first of three straight Miss Black Teenage Pageants, which was offered in Pittsburgh for more than 25 years.
Placing in the top 15 her second year and runner up a year later propelled Clark to the National America Miss Pageant, where she recently won the Miss Pennsylvania State Crown, giving her the chance in November to earn the National Miss title in Anaheim, Ca.
“You never know what you can achieve unless you try something beyond what you’ve already mastered you’re never going to grow as a person or make new friends nor get out of your comfort zone if you don’t talk to people or take that first step. Take a leap of faith,” Clark said.
Clark grew up in Greensburg, Pa. with her mother and brother.
In March of 2011, Clark began auditioning for colleges including Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State University, Seton Hill University and Point Park University. While considering out of state schools, a grieving time came upon her family with the passing of Clark’s grandmother. At the time, Clark’s mother and she agreed upon staying in state. After this agreement, Clark auditioned for Point Park and believed it was the right fit for her.
While being involved in the Local NAACP Branch, recently giving up the position of President, active in church choir, family oriented, pageant queen, Impulse hip-hop dance team member and much more, Clark still remains futuristically goal-orientated and involved in school.
“Melessie is a dedicated individual who goes above and beyond in all her endeavors. She has found success not only because of her own dedication, but because of her constant support and love that her friends and family provide,” Keaton Jawdin, Clark’s friend, said.
Clark is a senior majoring in musical theatre. She is also affiliated with COPA (Conservatory of Performing Arts). After college plans consist of traveling to New York. Currently, Clark is in the process of preparation for the New York showcase which gives an opportunity for seniors to show off their talents and possibly have a chance at commercial industry work.
Clark hopes her pageant success will also contribute to her career.
“While Miss America is more acclaimed and televised, National America Miss is more known around the world for giving girls skills and helping them achieve their dreams. [It’s] overall more of a pageant to grow up in,” says Clark.
This pageant also includes optional competitions that include top model, spokes model, actress and talent. In 2012, Clark took home the national titles for all four of these competitions and is hoping to accomplish this and more.
“It’s nice to see the confidence and poise my sister has learned through the pageant process transfer over into her character and personality in everyday life,” Kenny, Clark’s brother, said.
As Clark prepares for the upcoming pageant, which involves her writing, memorizing material, rehearsing her personal introduction, practicing her walk for formal wear, rehearsing her song for talent, all on top of practicing interview questions.
“I think the key to competing is focusing on being the best you can be and not comparing yourself to others; though it can be difficult I find that I walk away much more fulfilled from competitions, if I set personal goals for myself as opposed to competing solely to win, I am then walking away from the pageant with much more than a crown and banner can offer,” Clark said. “I’ve then made friends, challenged myself and gained new skills and experience.”
In the up and coming November pageant that Clark will be competing in for the National Title where there are three required phases of competition that are scored: formal wear, in which Clark will walk in a formal evening gown; personal introduction, where she will have 30 seconds to tell the judges about herself and an interview lasting a few minutes where Clark talks to each judge on the panel.
“Pageant competitions have given Melessie the opportunity to develop her interview skills, meet wonderful people who support and encourage her and allow her to showcase her singing and acting talents on-stage,” Dr. Robbin Sims, Clark’s mother, said.
“Coming out of college, I would not turn down any opportunity to help me take the next step in my career,” Clark said.
“My dream is to become a Broadway/film actress,” Clark said. “I’ve known since I was three, and the training I’ve received at Point Park University, along with my participation in pageants, has given me the confidence to make my dream a reality.”
