ALL HAIL THE QUEENS! – Chevelle “Jush” Brooks: Miss Universal Show Queen 2019

This year, almost every national and international title is being held by powerful beauties of color. These sensational individuals are an amazing representation of our community as a whole and we are so proud of their wins. Long live the queens! 

The highest scored category is Showgirl Costume, which is different from many other national pageants. How did you prepare for this category and what was your inspiration? 

Preparing for the showgirl category took me the longest to prepare for. It is the highest scored category, so you want to make sure you have something that is beautiful and has a wow factor. I had a couple of ideas before we came up with what I presented. My inspiration came from me being an African American woman and I wanted to celebrate my culture. There has been a lot of talk about African Americans in social media lately. Instead of me being something random like a peacock or celebrating another country – why not celebrate my own!

Considering the distance and expenses it costs to travel to Hawaii, what were your best fundraising resources? 

It is very expensive to travel to Hawaii to compete. I worked my butt off and sacrificed a lot to do this pageant. I have been competing a long time. Long time ago we had sponsors and fundraisers. Nowadays it’s different. So one way I raised money was through social media. I put it out that i was competing. I set up GoFundMe accounts, fundraising ads, and I even made a little black and white movie. Just to do something different. I found that it really helped a lot. People from all over helped me achieve my dream. I am really blessed.

Being a business woman, how important is having queer/trans POC owned businesses (such as your makeup line Dragmatic) in the community at large? 

Being in this industry makes you realize instantly that things change a lot. You have to do different things and find different avenues to make yourself stay relevant. As an entertainer, you are a brand. You should always want to do things that would keep your name or brand on people lips. Whether it be a brand ambassador for a company or even having your own merchandise to sell. Dragmatic Makeup is important because it it provides makeup and confidence for the under-served POC community. We provide colors and hues that aren’t being produced by other companies very often and at a higher quality. Being a black trans woman who is also a business owner is important because I serve as a role model to other young trans women. It is important for the new generation to see successful people like themselves doing well. I’ve realized that when you think you have done enough, trust me it’s not enough. Remember to always continue to strive for greatness. My motto is leave a legacy not just memories!