Ms. Black Indiana USA-Andrea Ford

By Tabitha Ervin
FWIS Editorial Director

Andrea Ford recently announced on social media that she is the current Ms. Black Indiana USA. She was a high school student running track years ago when I met her and got to coach her. It was a pleasure to reconnect via zoom to chat about her life so far and how she got this title.

Ford, a 2011 Harding graduate, ran track at Indiana Tech as a hurdler, as well as did high jump and the pentathlon. She and a group of her peers and former teammates were just inducted into the Indiana Tech Track and Field Hall of Fame this summer.

Following her successful track career in college and earning her bachelor’s in Fashion and Marketing management, she moved to Ohio then Atlanta. She worked at Hollister in Ohio and Indiana where she met Sherdell Baker, former Miss Black Indiana USA, and they became friends.

While in Atlanta, Ford worked in mortgage processing and was able to develop a skills class. She met various people in the black business community and while enjoying her time and experiences there, she was excited to come back to Fort Wayne and share those experiences in her own community.

Upon her return she enrolled in an MBA program with a concentration on marketing at Indiana Tech and has since graduated. On our call I learned that Ford is now pursuing a Cyber Security and Supply Chain Management certificate. She is excited to be in this field as only 2% of people in this field are black women. She wants to focus on STEAM for underrepresented populations *Note to add (Specifically youth).

We flashed back to a moment in highschool in her Careers class where she presented a career in modeling and was told by a teacher that it wasn't a real career. Now fast forward as she proudly holds the title of Ms. Black Indiana USA, now through December, she has proven to herself and her community that anything is possible with hard work. Says Ford, “That motivated me to do more despite the fact that someone told me this couldn’t be a career.” She encourages young people to keep going no matter what and especially if or when people doubt you!

She feels blessed to be able to focus on her faith and herself as various opportunities continue to unfold. On the last day for applications, her friend Sherdell convinced and encouraged her to apply for the Ms. Black Indiana USA title. After applying and interviewing, she was awarded the

title and looks forward to a year of engagements in the community of Fort Wayne but also throughout the midwest. She will be focused on leadership, working with others through community outreach in her appearances and is available to receive sponsorships and donations as she helps build more awareness about the Miss Black USA organization overall.

We also discussed the categories which are listed below:

- Talented Teen division for young women ages 14 to 19.

- Miss division, open to women ages 19 to 27.

- Ms. division for women ages 28 to 45.

I was surprised to learn the age range for the Ms. Division and encourage any women who have ever dreamed of pageantry but aged out of other programs to research this one. More info can be found online at: https://www.missblackusa.org/, http://www.msblackusa.com/

To contact Andrea please check her out online at: https://linktr.ee/Officialmsblackindiana2024 And good luck and many blessings on your year and at the national competition in August 2024!