A New York woman is cementing a watershed moment in the world in pageantry after it has been announced that she will become the first Black woman to represent the U.S. at the 2023 Miss Intercontinental pageant.
Amber Corbett, 23, was crowned representative of the U.S. by Katherine McQuade, USA’s Miss 2023 on July 22. According to Corbett, her crowning is an honor she does not take for granted.
“Winning Miss Intercontinental USA felt like I was breaking a glass ceiling in itself because, in 51 years, there’s never been a Black Miss Intercontinental USA,” Corbett told The Villager.
Corbett, a Brooklyn resident, says she will use her representation to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the pageantry space. “I’m planning on doing a safe space and [having] Zoom calls for women of color to do networking, she said. “Because as a woman of color in media, it’s such a small industry.”
She further added that a main source of support for her was from “She’s Represented,” a platform designed for women of color in corporate America to connect, partner and collaborate.
Corbett will also serve as the goodwill ambassador for the Miss Intercontinental Organization, which is geared toward fixing issues surrounding drug abuse and poverty, and focuses on gender equality, health, nutrition and environmental conservation.
Corbett graduated cum laude from Pace University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, advertising and integrated marketing communication. She extended her studies to include a minor in digital marketing.
The pageant queen first began competing in pageants at 11 and has won numerous competitions, including Miss Galaxy NY 2021, Miss Galaxy NY Teen 2015, Miss Earth NY Teen 2015, Miss United States NY Jr Teen 2015 and IJM Junior Teen 2015.
The Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant is scheduled to take place this October. The winner will be named Miss “POWER OF BEAUTY.”
Congratulations, Amber!
