Lisa Ruffin, the founder/producer of the Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant, surrounded by contestants at the Music Center performance by Misty Copeland in Los Angeles.

(Los Angeles, CA) Lisa Ruffin, the Founder/Producer of the 29th Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant, announces the pageant is accepting applications for the 2023 nationwide registration.  Only 50 young participants between the ages of 6 and 12 years old for the pageant. The Pageant will be held on Sunday, August 6th, at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. The Application Deadline is Friday, June 2, 2023.

The Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant is an educational program in pageant format dedicated to the intellectual advancement of African American Youth. The girls learn to wear their “C.A.P.,” which stands for Confidence, Awareness, and Pride. Selected participants undertake a cultural enrichment program designed to promote teamwork, self-esteem, and heighten cultural awareness. They take classes in public speaking, science, technology, and etiquette and are taught performances by award-winning choreographers.  The young ladies make new friends and learn about their rich African American history.

“By fostering these universal attributes at such a tender age, our girls grow to be leaders in their communities and help to change the world.” Says Ruffin.   Lisa is excited that many of her alumni have come back to give back.  Three of the former Pageant Queens are Crystal Young, LCSW, Myisha Lyseight, LV, and ShaVon Lucky.

The pageant will award over $10,000 in scholarships and prizes this year.

Submit your application for participation at www.littlemissafricanAmerican.org. The last day to register is Friday, June 2, 2023.

The Pageant will be held on Sunday, August 6, 2023, at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

About Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant

For the past 29 years, dozens of girls between the ages of 6-12 years old have participated in this program, hundreds of scholarships have been awarded, and lasting memories have been created for these young Academic and intellectual princesses.  While some of them come from strong supportive families, the majority of them come from under-served, single-family homes.  The pageant provides an early introduction to the arts and training in public speaking while promoting individual creativity and stimulating a heightened cultural understanding. For more information or sponsorship opportunities available, visit our website: www.littlemissafricanamerican.org or email us at [email protected]

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About Lisa Ruffin

Lisa Ruffin

Lisa Ruffin is a multi-talented performer and award-winning choreographer. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She attended The Juilliard School in New York City. Lisa has performed and choreographed in over 20 countries.

Lisa’s first professional job choreographing Kool and the Gang’s “Joanna” video, which won an American Music Award. In addition, she choreographed “The Artist Journey” and “Funk Blast” for Paul Allen’s $450 million dollar “Experience Music Project,” produced by Digital Domain. Lisa is the youngest African- American woman to choreograph a Broadway Stage production, “Up Close and Personal,” at the Lunt Fontaine Theatre. 

Additional choreography credits include television, “Moesha” starring Brandy, and “The Steve Harvey Show.” The NAACP ACT-SO Awards. Lisa has worked with Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, James Brown, George Clinton, and Rodney Cromwell, just to name a few. Lisa returned to her theatrical roots last year and decided to share her creative talents at the University of Southern California in the Musical Theatre Department. Lisa was honored to work on the University of Southern California’s “Spring Awaking” as the Choreographer and Intimacy Coordinator. Lisa started the beginning of this year by choreographing “SEIZE THE KING” at the University of Southern California.

Lisa choreographed and received glowing reviews for her choreography for “In the Continuum” at The Ensemble Theatre of Santa Barbara. Lisa returned to The Ensemble Theatre; last fall to choreograph the stage play “CARMEN.”

Lisa created and implemented Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant, the longest-running scholarship pageant for young girls in that age group. This educational program is in its 29th year of operation.  Over 200 of Little Miss African American Alumni have graduated from colleges like USC, UCLA, and Spelman. If you want to learn more about Lisa, you can go to her website at LisaRuffin.com or www.Instagram.com/officiallisaruffin