Queens in the Making: Morgan Women Shine on the Pageant Stage
In a milestone moment for Morgan State University, two current students and a recent alumna have simultaneously claimed prestigious pageant titles—an unprecedented sweep that highlights their poise, purpose, and leadership.
Ivy Harrington – Miss New Jersey USA 2025
A 2017 Morgan alumna and former standout on the Bears basketball team, Ivy Harrington was crowned Miss New Jersey USA 2025 in April at Hotel Parsippany. Originally from Neptune Township, Harrington will go on to compete in Miss USA this September. A broadcast journalism major at Morgan, she now works as a social media manager and founded MVP: Most Valuable Pivot, a mentoring initiative for young women athletes.
She shared that Morgan helped her embrace her many roles: “athlete, scholar, and now titleholder,” blending confidence with representation and reinvention.
Gabrielle A. Carter – Miss Black United States 2024
Senior elementary education major Gabrielle A. Carter, hailing from Owings Mills, Maryland, earned the title Miss Black United States 2024. A five-time Dean’s List honoree and global scholar who studied in England, she pursued her artistic passions through Carter’s Creations. Carter also led Morgan’s Society of Future Educators and served as Vice President of Fashion, combining her passions for education and entrepreneurship.
A May 2025 graduate, she used her pageant platform to empower young girls: “encourage them to be fearless.”
Elle Miles – Miss Baltimore 2025
Rising senior musical theatre major and MSU Choir member Elle Miles captured the title of Miss Baltimore 2025, earning the opportunity to compete for Miss Maryland. Part of Morgan’s inaugural B.F.A. Musical Theatre class, Miles launched SHIFT, a campaign on social media encouraging youth to reclaim their time and happiness.
Inspired by faculty mentors, she aims to fuse artistry and activism to promote “joy, authenticity, and resilience.”
