Lenaura Blessing Ifeoma Chukwu, a 23-year-old woman of Afro-Mexican origin, was unexpectedly crowned Miss Nayarit 2020. She immediately went viral for being the first Afro-Mexican beauty queen to win the title.
Now she’s representing the state of Nayarit in the Miss Mexico 2020 beauty pageant, becoming the first Afro-Mexican representative to participate in the national beauty contest, as reported in Forbes Mexico.
Chukwu, who is of Nigerian descent, graduated from the Autonomous University of Nayarit where she majored in marketing. She’s a teacher, athlete, Nayarit tourism ambassador, and volunteers in social projects.
“I am very different from the one who entered Miss Nayarit, I have managed to handle those attacks in my favor,” she explains.
In Mexico, more than 1 million people or 1.2% identify as Afro-descent, according to data in 2015; however, they continue to struggle to be recognized.
Blessing said that there is still ignorance about Afro-Mexicans, and since she was a child, she learned to accept and understand the great diversity that exists in the country. She adds that she was discriminated against for her skin color from childhood until her participation in Miss Nayarit.
“I am proud to represent Nayarit now in one of the most important platforms @missmexicoorg. Thank you, queen @ alvidrez.ashley, for your advice, and all for their messages of support,” she said on social media.
Miss Mexico 2020 will be held on October 31 in Chihuahua. Whoever wins will go on to represent Mexico in Miss World. In the words of Issa Rae, Travel Noire is rooting for everybody (Blessing Chukwu) Black!
