Toni Deniece Seawright (born June 25, 1964) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. In 1987 Seawright was the first African American to become Miss Mississippi, and in 1988 was fourth runner-up in the Miss America pageant.[1][2]
Toni Seawright
Toni Seawright becomes the first African-American announced Miss Mississippi in 1987.
Seawright was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She attended Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi,[1] where she was the first African American to earn a degree in music at Mississippi University for Women, and majored in Vocal Music and Business at that university. Toni became the first African American to hold a recital in vocal music at MUW as well. She went on to compete for Miss W, the local chapter preliminary to the Miss America Pageant and won. This win put her in the position to compete for the state's Miss Mississippi Pageant in 1987.[3] She went on to capture the coveted crown, making history as the very first African American to ever win.[1][3] She was the fourth runner-up in the Miss America Pageant,[2] representing the state of Mississippi in 1987.[1]
Toni Seawright playing the mother of Parrish Diaz in Tony Clomax's 12 Steps to Recovery
Seawright sang background vocals for artists such as Teena Marie, Freddie Jackson, Tony Terry, RuPaul, Shaggy, and Laura Branigan. Seawright starred alongside Stephanie Mills and Andre DeShields in the musical The Wiz. Ms. Seawright made her Broadway debut in Street Corner Symphony and Delta Rising, both at the 651 Arts Theater. She also starred in the off-Broadway play Josh (The Black Babe Ruth)/Satchel (Requiem for Racism) at the National Federal Theater (also known as the Abron Arts Center), and Sister Ann in the AUDELCO award-winning play What Would Jesus Do? at the Billie Holiday Theater. Seawright most recently appeared starring as Miss Mamie in "The Widow and Miss Mamie" at the Harlem School of the Arts.
Seawright is currently writing and producing material for her two sons, Qaasim Middleton and Khalil Middleton. The duo have worked with famed producers Full Force as well as Magick Blyss Entertainment, founded by Kevin Hunte, of So You Think You Can Dance fame. Seawright's ex-husband is Keith "Wild Child" Middleton, who starred in STOMP. The two had two sons together, Qaasim and Kahlil.[4][5] Seawright has guest starred twice on the Nickelodeon musical comedy series The Naked Brothers Band,[6] which co-stars her on-and-off-screen son, Qaasim, who appeared in HBO's The Music in Me. Seawright's younger son, Khalil, starred in Noggin's Jack's Big Music Show. Qaasim was a finalist on Season 14 of American Idol.[7]
On March 16, 2020, she disclosed that she had tested positive for the coronavirus.[8]
^ abcd"Black Is Miss Mississippi". The New York Times. July 20, 1987. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
^ ab. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
^ abJackson-Winbush, Don (November 16, 1987). . The Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
^Shattuck, Kathryn (October 7, 2006). "Big Sounds, All but Bursting Out of Small Packages". The New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
^"Qaasim Middleton – Pictures, Rumors Qaasim Middleton from The Naked Brothers Band Updated". BuddyTV. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
^"The Naked Brothers Band: Everybody's Cried at Least Once". TV.com. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
^. www.americanidol.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
^Carter, Josh (March 17, 2020). "Former Miss Mississippi Toni Seawright says she has tested positive for the coronavirus". WLBT.com. WLBT-TV. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
toni, seawright, toni, deniece, seawright, born, june, 1964, american, actress, singer, songwriter, 1987, seawright, first, african, american, become, miss, mississippi, 1988, fourth, runner, miss, america, pageant, becomes, first, african, american, announced. Toni Deniece Seawright born June 25 1964 is an American actress and singer songwriter In 1987 Seawright was the first African American to become Miss Mississippi and in 1988 was fourth runner up in the Miss America pageant 1 2 Toni SeawrightToni Seawright becomes the first African American announced Miss Mississippi in 1987 BornToni Deniece Seawright 1964 06 25 June 25 1964 age 59 Pascagoula Mississippi U S Occupation s Actresssinger songwriterYears active1987 present Contents 1 Life and career 2 Filmography 3 References 4 External linksLife and career editSeawright was born in Pascagoula Mississippi She attended Mississippi University for Women in Columbus Mississippi 1 where she was the first African American to earn a degree in music at Mississippi University for Women and majored in Vocal Music and Business at that university Toni became the first African American to hold a recital in vocal music at MUW as well She went on to compete for Miss W the local chapter preliminary to the Miss America Pageant and won This win put her in the position to compete for the state s Miss Mississippi Pageant in 1987 3 She went on to capture the coveted crown making history as the very first African American to ever win 1 3 She was the fourth runner up in the Miss America Pageant 2 representing the state of Mississippi in 1987 1 nbsp Toni Seawright playing the mother of Parrish Diaz in Tony Clomax s 12 Steps to Recovery Seawright sang background vocals for artists such as Teena Marie Freddie Jackson Tony Terry RuPaul Shaggy and Laura Branigan Seawright starred alongside Stephanie Mills and Andre DeShields in the musical The Wiz Ms Seawright made her Broadway debut in Street Corner Symphony and Delta Rising both at the 651 Arts Theater She also starred in the off Broadway play Josh The Black Babe Ruth Satchel Requiem for Racism at the National Federal Theater also known as the Abron Arts Center and Sister Ann in the AUDELCO award winning play What Would Jesus Do at the Billie Holiday Theater Seawright most recently appeared starring as Miss Mamie in The Widow and Miss Mamie at the Harlem School of the Arts Seawright is currently writing and producing material for her two sons Qaasim Middleton and Khalil Middleton The duo have worked with famed producers Full Force as well as Magick Blyss Entertainment founded by Kevin Hunte of So You Think You Can Dance fame Seawright s ex husband is Keith Wild Child Middleton who starred in STOMP The two had two sons together Qaasim and Kahlil 4 5 Seawright has guest starred twice on the Nickelodeon musical comedy series The Naked Brothers Band 6 which co stars her on and off screen son Qaasim who appeared in HBO s The Music in Me Seawright s younger son Khalil starred in Noggin s Jack s Big Music Show Qaasim was a finalist on Season 14 of American Idol 7 On March 16 2020 she disclosed that she had tested positive for the coronavirus 8 Filmography edit Everybody s Cried at Least Once The Naked Brothers Band 2008 Mystery Girl The Naked Brothers Band 2008 References edit a b c d Black Is Miss Mississippi The New York Times July 20 1987 Retrieved May 19 2012 a b Miss America 1988 Delegates Yahoo Archived from the original on October 22 2009 Retrieved May 19 2012 a b Jackson Winbush Don November 16 1987 Mississippi Rises Again The Times Archived from the original on February 20 2008 Retrieved May 19 2012 Shattuck Kathryn October 7 2006 Big Sounds All but Bursting Out of Small Packages The New York Times Retrieved May 19 2012 Qaasim Middleton Pictures Rumors Qaasim Middleton from The Naked Brothers Band Updated BuddyTV Retrieved May 19 2012 The Naked Brothers Band Everybody s Cried at Least Once TV com Retrieved May 19 2012 Get to Know Qaasim Middleton American Idol on FOX www americanidol com Archived from the original on February 27 2015 Retrieved January 13 2022 Carter Josh March 17 2020 Former Miss Mississippi Toni Seawright says she has tested positive for the coronavirus WLBT com WLBT TV Retrieved March 17 2020 External links editToni Seawright at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Toni Seawright amp oldid 1210353298, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
