THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9410290017
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
A RUNWAY RIMMED with silky philodendron and plastic red berries glinted as the sequins sashayed by, as judges watched the perfunctory parade of heels and the swish of swimsuits underscored by a jazz ensemble in the corner of the ballroom.
For those who didn't know, Thursday night's Jet Extravaganza in Portsmouth was nothing more than a pageant.
But those who knew the secret, anyone who has ever picked up a Jet magazine and marveled at the way it happened to fall open to reveal the swimsuit-clad Beauty of the Week, knew Thursday night at the Holiday Inn Portside was something else.
The eight women on stage - some past Jet Beauties and the others who hope to be - knew. And so did most of the audience. It was a night to celebrate what being a Jet Beauty centerfold has meant to many African-American women.
In a day and age when such things are often considered exploitative, that wasn't on the minds of the contestants Thursday night.
``For us in the black community, it was an honor to be selected,'' said Joyce White, executive director of the Young People's Guild, which sponsored the affair. ``They are not considered sex symbols so much as an African-American beauty, princess or queen.''
But the meaning goes deeper than that.
When it debuted Nov. 19, 1951, Jet magazine became one of the first black publications in the country and thus one of the few places African-Americans could see themselves in a positive light. It didn't take long for the Beauty of the Week to become one of the magazine's most popular features.
The women were typically in swimsuit, leaning against a rock, lounging in a chair, with a brief bio describing the model as a lawyer from Wichita or a pre-med student who enjoyed working with kids. Only recently have black models begun to creep into the pages of mainstream magazines, but it's a slow crawl. It's still rare to see one on a cover.
But that's never been the case with Jet.
``When I was a little girl, I remember picking up the magazine, saying, `Let me see who is the Beauty of the Week,' '' says Desaline Perry, 28, of Portsmouth, who hopes to become a centerfold.
``It's not the lady on TV, it's not Naomi Campbell, it's not Beverly Johnson, it's women of all different shades, sizes, shapes from around the country. They could be anyone you knew, it could be me.''
Tracy Wilson, 28-year-old mother of three, said that being a part of the extravaganza was fulfilling a lifelong goal.
``Oh, yes, I would love to be a Jet Beauty of the Week,'' Wilson said. ``I've always wanted to be a model but never thought I could be. This could be a chance.''
Contestant No. 2, Nina Robinson, was given the chance in December 1990 when a photographer asked her to pose for the magazine.
Her picture ran nationwide in August 1991, after she returned from Army duty in Operation Desert Storm.
``I've received so many letters from people around the country, around the world,'' said the Chesapeake resident. ``One guy wrote me from Korea and told me my photograph brightened his day, he could see the positiveness exude from my smile. That's what that was all about.''
Tonisha Joyner, another participant, became a national pin-up in September 1992.
``I was at Chowan State and I remember I had a cousin who went to Norfolk State, and he went around campus, taking the pages off of the wall because people had pinned them up. That's how he found out I had become a Beauty of the Week,'' Joyner said.
``I've had some negatives, people who say its exploitative, but it's been pretty positive. I still have people who recognize me and stop me, `Hey, weren't you in Jet magazine?' ''
The Jet Extravaganza was a competition with interview, swimsuit, casual and ``elegant'' sportswear competitions. Robinson, who was named Jet Beauty at the end of the evening, will receive a scholarship and will be spokesmodel for the Young People's Guild for a year.
The evening had it's fair share of dazzle and flesh, but it concentrated on what the women have been doing since becoming Jet Beauties and what their lives are beyond the spray of philodendron.
Robinson, who is an infection control supervisor at Norfolk Community Hospital, is studying for medical school and hopes to become a cardiovascular surgeon. She also wants to start self-esteem workshops for young girls and to establish a scholarship program for her alma mater, Norfolk State University.
Joyner, a health care supervisor with Blue Cross-Blue Shield, is working with a girlfriend to start a crisis hotline for troubled youth.
``We'll have certain hours they can call, but we want to be there for them if they're having family problems, problems with their peers, they can call and talk to us,'' Joyner said. ``They need someone else besides their peers to talk to, because their peers sometimes steer them in the wrong direction.''
White hoped the evening would be a positive opportunity for the participants.
``It's not a pageant. I just wanted to get their names out there. Some of the people out there might be wondering whatever happened to them after they were Jet Beauties,'' White said.
``I also wanted it to be a network for those who might want to be Jet Beauties and to let people to know these women are doing positive things with their lives, to see the intelligence of these women.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by Julie Elman
Jet Extravaganza contestants wait backstage for winner to be named
by CNB