Hy-Lo News has launched the series “The Road to the 2025 Miss Black Florida USA Scholarship Pageant.” We’ll be Profiling Contestants Competing in the Miss; Ms/Mrs and Teen Divisions of the MBFLUSA Pageant.
Nichole Wingfield, the reigning Mrs. Black Saint Johns USA, is bringing her passion for healthcare advocacy and community empowerment to the Miss Black Florida USA Scholarship Pageant. A military “brat” with roots in Tampa, FL, and Colorado Springs, CO, Nichole’s journey has been shaped by a unique upbringing and the resilience learned from her family’s service. Now, she aims to leverage her platform to champion healthcare literacy, focusing on empowering patients and families within underserved communities to understand and take charge of their care. In this candid Q&A with Hy-Lo News Publisher Janey Tate, Nichole shares insights into her motivations, personal inspirations, and what she hopes to bring to the Miss Black Florida USA pageant stage.
All interview question responses were edited for clarity and grammar.
Janey Tate: Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Black Florida USA Scholarship Pageant?
Nichole Wingfield: I do have a passion for helping others and in healthcare. I know that this pageant will give me the platform to be able to help me educate those on the importance of advocating for themselves and/or family members. Especially those within our community. There are many times where I have seen patients/family members not understand their plan of care because either it wasn’t fully explained to them, the doctor/nurse was talking too fast, or they just don’t understand. Therefore, I plan to advocate for those individuals who are not able to advocate for themselves.
In addition, this pageant will help me with my second passion, which is modeling. This pageant will help me develop certain modeling skills that are definitely needed in the modeling industry.
JT: Where are you originally from and how has your upbringing impacted who you are today?
NW: I am a “military brat.” My father was in the Army and my mother was in the Air Force. I mostly say that I am from Tampa, FL and Colorado Springs, CO. I lived in Tampa from 4th grade until 9th grade. Then I lived in Colorado Springs from 10th grade until I joined the Army in 2007. My upbringing helped me become more flexible with changes. It also helped me learn how to adapt to different environments, situations, people, and cultures.
JT: What is your pageant platform and why?
NW: My pageant platform is that I plan to advocate for those individuals who are not able to advocate for themselves in healthcare. As I stated above, there are many times where I have seen patients/family members not understand their plan of care because either it wasn’t fully explained to them, the doctor/nurse was talking too fast, or they just don’t understand. This can lead to mistrust, incompliance, and possible mistakes when the patient makes it back home. Whenever I am at work, I try to encourage patients and/or family members that if they don’t understand something to please speak up and ask questions. I educate the patients that they have a right to know their plan of care.
JT: Who is someone or people in your life who have helped you most on your journey to win the state pageant and what does that mean to you?
NW: First, I would like to say God. He has helped me with strength and courage to make it through this journey. Second, would be my Mom. Third, would be my Aunt Martha. Fourth, two of my cousins on my late Husband’s side, Aaron and Carmen. Finally, my coworkers. I believe that without any kind of faith or support, I would have been completely lost, struggling, and probably would have honestly dropped out of the pageant. Everyone that I have named has shown me some kind of support. Everyone that I have mentioned has helped me by supporting me through words of encouragement, financially, reminding me to keep my faith, and/or emotionally.
JT: What will you be performing for the talent portion of the state competition and why?
NW: I will be reading two poems in honor of my Dad and late Husband. My Dad passed away in December 2023 and my late Husband passed away in January 2024.
JT: What are you most looking forward to about the Miss Black Florida USA pageant statewide competition?
NW: I am most looking forward to having fun, meeting the other Sister Queens, meeting other people, and being able to speak about the importance of advocacy in healthcare.
JT: What have you learned about yourself on your journey to win the state title?
NW: I have learned to have more confidence in myself. In addition, I did not realize how strong I truly was until I started going through this journey.
JT: The Miss Black USA and Miss Black Florida USA Scholarship Pageant organizations champion the celebration of Black Women and their service, education and commitment to improving themselves and their community. Explain why you think this is an important mission of the organization and why you think it’s needed in today’s social climate.
NW: I believe that education could help increase a person’s income, which could help to improve themselves and their community. In addition, education can also help by decreasing the risk of certain health problems within our community. For example: HIV/AIDS, maternal/infant deaths, heart attacks, and strokes. As I stated above, if a person does not understand something, it could lead to mistakes and noncompliance. In my opinion, this could overall help our economy.
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Note: The Ms/Mrs Division of the Miss Black Florida Scholarship pageant organization is open to women ages 28-45. The Miss Black Florida USA pageant is a franchise of the Miss Black USA pageant system. The winner of the state title will go on to compete for the national title at the Miss Black USA pageant.
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