Juanita Brown Ingram is a woman of many talents as she is an award-winning attorney, filmmaker, author, fashion philanthropist, and actress.
The beautiful wife and mother, a proud HBCU graduate, Tennessee State University alum and (Did we mention Chattanooga native?) is not new to pageantry. She is the first African-American woman to compete and win the title of Mrs. Indiana United States in 2007 and has since gone on to compete and become the first African-American Ms. World International 2012, and has Mrs. Great Britain World 2011, Mrs. UK Universe 2013, and Mrs. UK International 2014 (placing Top 3 at Nationals). Ingram received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Tennessee State University and her MBA and Jurist Doctorate from the University of Memphis. She is a US licensed attorney and a former adjunct professor of Business Law, a member of Tennessee State University alum and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and was the recipient of the 2021 NAACP Ruby Hurley Image Award in Chattanooga.
She was also acknowledged as one of the Top 7 Black Women in Pageantry to turn Beauty into Business in Madame Noir.
Ingram founded Purpose Productions Inc. in 2018, which is a women-led production company with a mission of creating content that celebrates authentic BIPOC narratives while empowering women and youth through film. On Juneteenth 2021, she launched Purpose Streaming, a streaming platform dedicated to content that inspires, informs, and empowers through BIPOC-centric content.
The newly crowned Mrs. Universe ran on the platform “dress for success,” a platform that she says she lives by and is a nod to her service work. She is the founder and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Dress For Success Greater London, an organization that helps disadvantaged women become economically independent by styling them and giving them interview attire, career training, and support. She recently opened a Dress For Success office in her hometown Chatanooga, Tennessee.
Her proud parents Ms. Carolyn Ivel Tinker Brown and Dr. and Mrs. Richard Brown reside in Chattanooga.
FB quotes from Mrs. Universe: Truly honored. I went into this competition just giving God a “yes” for the purpose He had for me. I am grateful for this opportunity, very grateful.
“I think pageantry with purpose a very powerful, so to all the young ladies who are interested in doing that I say go for it,” said Ingram. “Prepare and just be your absolute best self.”
“I won! I am Mrs. Universe 2022! I’ve wanted this title for the last 10 years and here it is!
What a blessing! I will post more later – I have a ton of people to thank and an after party to attend right now! My family and friends have been angels!! But for now, I just want to encourage someone to stay true to who you truly are and who God has called YOU to be. Don’t be influenced nor discouraged by anyone or anything. Hold on to YOUR standards and YOUR calling. Hold fast to your purpose and never let go!” Juanita Brown Ingram, Esq. (Compiled: CNC Editor/FREdwards)