Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariana Johnson
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I became involved in pageantry during my freshmen year of college, I received a full scholarship to attend Cuyahoga Community College by former Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, I entered into the Miss Teen Cleveland Pageant in 2009, I did not win however, I made a vow to myself that If I had the opportunity to compete in another pageant that I would, I prayed on it and God allowed me to compete in the American Royal Beauties Pageant as Ms. Great Lakes, in 2023, I completed in nationals in Cincinnati, Ohio and I won the print model competition, my platform in the ARB pageant was gun control, as I believe that many states Ohio included has very lenient Gun Laws. shortly after, in the fall of 2023, I won Ms Black Ohio USA 2024, My platform was Black Maternal Health because according to the CDC ( Center of Disease Control) in the state of Ohio 40% of Black women are dying after child birth. I was blessed to be an ambassador for Village of Healing, a Black woman owned clinic in Northeast Ohio, that helps to eradicate the Black Maternal Health Crisis. In November 2024, I was Blessed to be crowned Ms. Black Ohio USA 2025-2026. I return with my platform once again being Black Maternal Health.
I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio in the South Collinwood neighborhood, I was reared in a two parent-home, my father was a sanitation worker for the City of Cleveland and my mother was a loan officer for a mortgage company. Even though I was reared in the church and I am a Christian, I was introduced to the Islam religion through my dad as he studied Islam throughout my childhood. Throughout my elementary school years, I attended private Christian schools, I always had a passion to study performing arts, I sang in the choir and I was a praise dancer. My mother enrolled me into the Rainey Institute, a performing arts program in Cleveland where I studied performing and visual arts, Also, I was introduced to great performers such as: Lena Horne, Butterfly Mcqueen, Paul Roberson and Dorothy Dandridge. My mother also enrolled me into the Saturday performing arts program at Liberty Hill Baptist Church. In seventh grade, I left private school to attend the Cleveland School of Arts, the premier performing arts school in Cleveland, Ohio. At CSA I was theater major but I also studied music and sang in a Gospel Choir called, Christians Taking Authority, In 2008, I graduated from CSA and I enrolled into Cuyahoga Community College with full scholarship, I studied communications, I studied at Tri-C for a year and transferred to Cleveland State University, where I earned a B.A in Communications December of 2012. Currently, I am the Communications Manager for The Famicos Foundation, a Community Development Corporation in Cleveland, in May of this year I will be earning my master’s in social services administration from Case Western Reserve University, I have aspirations to be a clinical social worker. I am an active member of my church Greater Faith Missionary Baptist church, where I serve as the Vice President of the Missionary Ministry, I am a member of the Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, The Junior League of Cleveland and with my title as Ms. Black Ohio USA 2025-2026 I am the Ambassador for PADS ( Pride Among Daughters and Sisters), a non profit organization that provides feminine products to women and young ladies in Cleveland, I am also an Ambassador for Cameroon Youth & Students Forum for peace, a non profit organization that provides clean water and hygiene products to young women in Cameroon, Africa. Lastly, I was blessed to be the first Black female President of the Northeast Ohio Young Black Democrats in 2012-2013.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. There has been multiple barriers that I had to deal with financially, career wise and just with my overall self-esteem, specifically in the pageant space. Constantly, I was asking myself, if I am pretty enough, smart enough, or accomplished enough to be amongst extremely beautiful, successful women. However, my believe in GOD and my faith in Jesus Christ always reminds me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and I am right where I am supposed to be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In Addition to me being a Pageant queen, I am also an aspiring plus size model, I have modeled in a few local fashion shows in Cleveland, and I have been featured in the publications: Sitigirl Magazine Cincinnati and Beauty is Everywhere Art & Beauty Magazine, in addition to being a social worker, I would love to be a plus size model and brand ambassador for brands like: Ashley Stewart, Curve Sense, Fashion NOVA Curve etc. I would love to be an advocate and a face for beautiful plus size women and encourage them to embrace their curves but still lead a healthy lifestyle.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mom deserves 100% of the credit, my dad is my advocate too, but my mom has been by my side for every audition, every model call and pageant competition. I love her so much and I could not navigate through this world of pageantry and modeling without her, she is truly my God- Send Angel.
Contact Info:
- Website: johnsonariana10@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianajohnson23/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553819346618&sk=photos
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariana-johnson-7271b51b0/
- Twitter: https://x.com/DearIdaspeaks
