The Braxtons Open Up About Beauty and Self-Esteem

The sisters (and Andre) get personal as they gear up for the Miss Black Collegiate USA Pageant

As exclusively reported by Loop 21, the Braxton family will be returning to their Maryland roots to participate in the first annual Miss Black Collegiate USA Scholarship Pageant, hosted by Towanda Braxton and judged by her husband Andre Carter, her sisters Trina and Traci, and her mother, Ms. Evelyn.

The Braxton clan, who are the stars of the hit reality TV show "Braxton Family Values," caught up with Loop 21 to talk about why they decided to work with the pageant, the importance for young black girls to have inner beauty and confidence in today’s society, their own struggles with insecurities, and which Braxton sister they think has the most confidence.

Loop 21: What made you want to get involved with the Miss Black Collegiate Pageant?

Trina: I felt it was a way to show my support for upcoming females to pursue all their goals, which is very important to me, because I feel everyone should have a chance to aim for their dreams.

Evelyn: I thought that it would be a very interesting thing to do, I have never been involved with anything of that caliber so I am really looking forward to be able to be part of something as positive and uplifting to help encourage young black women.

Andre: We need to celebrate awareness of being black and I think a lot of our women are just not being appreciated, especially young black women these days. They have nowhere to turn as far as contests like this. I think it’s a great thing to do and I wanted to be a part of it.

Loop 21: What is some advice you would give to the contestants in the Miss Black Collegiate Pageant?

[ALSO READ: Braxtons To Judge Black Beauty Pageant]

Towanda: Be you at all times!

Traci: Be yourself, hunny! Show what you have to offer in life. If you’re phony somebody can see through that.

Evelyn: Do your best, be who you are and say what you need to say to express what you feel and say it from the heart, because people can always tell when you're not telling the truth.

Loop 21: What are your thoughts on judging the pageant and what are some qualities you will be looking for in the contestants?

Andre: Probably spirituality because a lot of people are getting away from their spirituality. I think as black people, that’s one of the things that held us together.