Nia Franklin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
July 27, 1993
Miss New York 2018
Miss America 2019
Nia Franklin | |
|---|---|
 Franklin at the 2018 Military Bowl | |
| Born | Nia Imani Franklin July 27, 1993 |
| Education | East Carolina University (BM) University of North Carolina School of the Arts (MM) |
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Title | Miss Five Boroughs 2018 Miss New York 2018 Miss America 2019 |
| Term | September 9, 2018 – December 19, 2019 |
| Predecessor | Cara Mund |
| Successor | Camille Schrier |
Nia Imani Franklin (born July 27, 1993) is an American composer and beauty pageant titleholder. In June 2018, she was crowned Miss New York 2018.[1] On September 9, 2018, she was crowned Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, by the outgoing Miss America 2018, Cara Mund.[2]
With her win, 2019 became the first year that all four major United States–based pageants were won by black women; other titleholders were Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa (as Miss Universe 2019), Kaliegh Garris (as Miss Teen USA 2019), and Cheslie Kryst (as Miss USA 2019).[3][4][5][6]
Franklin was born on July 27, 1993, the oldest daughter born to James and Kristy Franklin.[7] She has younger siblings, sister Bailey and brother J.D.[8]
Franklin graduated from North Davidson High School in Welcome, North Carolina, in 2011. She then attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, and graduated with a degree in music composition in 2015.[8] During her freshman year at East Carolina University, Franklin's father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.[7][9] Years later, her father relapsed twice and required a stem cell transplant.[10] Franklin was found to be a match and then donated her stem cells, ultimately leading to her father's remission.[9][10]
After graduating from East Carolina, she attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and earned her master of music degree in 2017, also in music composition.[8] She composed a chamber opera titled King Solomon that premiered in 2015.[11] Franklin moved to New York City after being selected as a 2017 William R. Kenan Jr. fellow with the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' education division.[12][13]
Philanthropy and social activism
As a student at UNCSA, Franklin was a member of ArtistCorps, an AmeriCorps program that invites well-known artists into public schools and community centers to work with students with decreased access to arts programming.[10][14] After relocating to New York, Franklin worked closely with Success Academy Charter Schools, founding a music club for students, and served as a cultural partner with the NYC-based non-profit organization, Sing For Hope.[13][15]
