Spectacular Magazine 2019 Emerging Leaders of the Year Semi-Finalists Announced
On September 14th, Spectacular Magazine will recognize and honor the achievements of African Americans between the ages of 18 – 35 who have made a difference in the African American community in eleven (11) categories with the Spectacular Magazine 2019 Emerging Leaders of the Year (ELOY) Awards at a Black-Tie Awards Show at a theater to be announced. The event will kick off with a Red Carpet Reception at 6:00 pm and Awards Show beginning at 7:00 pm.
Nominations were accepted in ten categories and narrowed down by the ELOY Selection Committee (Committee), based on criteria, to three (3) semi-finalists in each category. Due to overwhelming submissions in the Entrepreneurship category, six semi-finalists were selected and two award recipients will be named in that category. The public will have the opportunity to vote online for these 33 semi-finalists. Based on the results of the online voting process, ten of those will receive the title of Spectacular Magazine 2019 Emerging Leader of the Year. The Committee selected the recipient of the Spectacular Magazine 2019 Leader of the Year that will also be presented during the Awards Show.
The voting process begins Sunday August 18th and ends midnight Saturday August 31st. Winners will be announced at the Spectacular Magazine Emerging Leaders of the Year Awards Show. In addition to the Award, Emerging Leaders will have a feature article on Spectacular Magazine website, as well as, featured on a billboard on a major highway in the Triangle recognizing you as a Spectacular Magazine Emerging Leader. A magazine photo session will take place after the Awards Show on September 14th.
The Spectacular Magazine 2019 Emerging Leaders of the Year Semi-Finalists (and their category) are:
| KRISTINA | SMITH | NORMAL | ILLINOIS | DUKE UNIVERSITY | PRESIDENT | ACTIVISM | |
| BRANDON | HEDGEBETH | HIGH POINT | NORTH CAROLINA | NCCU SGA | PRESIDENT | ACTIVISM | |
| NIA | PIERCE | EAST ORANGE | NEW JERSEY | THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY | NAACP VICE-PRESIDENT | ACTIVISM | |
| CARLOS | O’BRIANT | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | FAMILY BIZNESS LLC | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | ARTS | |
| KIMBERLY | PALMER | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | MOTIV8 CREATIVE STUDIOS | STUDIO OWNER | ARTS | |
| JEFFREY | WILLIAMSON | RALEIGH | NORTH CAROLINA | JEFFREY LYNN | PHOTOGRAPHER | ARTS | |
| JORI | NWACHUKWU | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | JORICHIOMA | CONTENT CREATOR | BEAUTY FASHION INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL | |
| TIA | TEASLEY | RALEIGH | NORTH CAROLINA | THE DUCHESS OF BROWS | OWNER | BEAUTY/FASHION INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL | |
| ALEXANDER | GLENN | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | CAPO VINTAGE | DESIGNER/MODEL | BEAUTY/FASHION INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL | |
| DAVID | GARVIN | RALEIGH | NORTH CAROLINA | THE HUMBLED INITIATIVE | FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | COMMUNITY SERVICE | |
| VANESSA | MITCHELL | HENDERSON | NORTH CAROLINA | I DANCE PRAISE ACADEMY | YOUTH PASTOR, DANCE INSTRUCTOR, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST | COMMUNITY SERVICE | |
| CALVIN II | PIERCE | EAST ORANGE | NEW JERSEY | AMERICAN WEAR | ROUTE SALES MANAGER | COMMUNITY SERVICE | |
| RYANNE | LOGAN | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS | SCHOOL COUNSELOR | EDUCATION | |
| ADRIAN | TUCKER | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | STUDENT U | TEACHER | EDUCATION | |
| NITA | OLLISON | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | NITA KEY ENRICHMENT | MUSIC TEACHER | EDUCATION | |
| BRANDON | BELL | RALEIGH | NORTH CAROLINA | BELLMAN & ASSOCIATES INC | CEO PRESIDENT | ENTREPRENEURSHIP | |
| GERRIKKA | BUNCHE | RALEIGH | NORTH CAROLINA | MOM REDEFINED | CEO | ENTREPRENEURSHIP | |
| ITHIOPIA | MEEKEDA | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | BLUSH ESSENTIALS LLC | CEO/FOUNDER | ENTREPRENEURSHIP | |
| BRENDA | KITHCART | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | KREATIVE KIDZ NC | OWNER / FOUNDER | ENTREPRENEURSHIP | |
| KALA | NWACHUKWU | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | KAY’S SOLE | FOUNDER | ENTREPRENEURSHIP | |
| JASMINE | BURROUGHS | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | FOOD THAT FITS U | FOUNDER / OWNER | ENTREPRENEURSHIP | |
| WILLIE | DAVIS | FAYETTEVILLE | NORTH CAROLINA | G-PACT (HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING) | FOUNDER/INSTRUCTOR | FITNESS | |
| JAYE | PRATT | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | JCP FITNESS | CEO/FOUNDER | FITNESS | |
| ASHANTI | ROBINSON | DURHAM, NC | NORTH CAROLINA | MIAMI KNOCKOUT FITNESS | OWNER | FITNESS | |
| TYNIQUE | KELLY | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | BIG SISTER TALK | FOUNDER | MENTOR | |
| RAVEN | GIBBS | RALEIGH | NORTH CAROLINA | MOTIV8 INCORPORATED | CEO | MENTOR | |
| TROY | JOHNSON | RALEIGH | NORTH CAROLINA | YM4C ENTERPRISES | DIRECTOR | MENTOR | |
| HUGH | BROWN JR | RALEIGH | NORTH CAROLINA | DJ SCOOBY TV | DJ | SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER | |
| ERICA | MCRAE | ATLANTA | GEORGIA | CAPITAL CITY MARKETING GROUP | FOUNDER / OWNER | SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER | |
| VASHTI | HURT | CHARLOTTE | NORTH CAROLINA | CAROLINA BLITZ | FOUNDER | SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER | |
| CALVIN | BARNES | WASHINGTON | DC | WASHINGTON MYSTICS | GRAPHIC DESIGNER | TECHNOLOGY | |
| TARRYN | HENRY | DURHAM | NORTH CAROLINA | BLACKS IN TECH | ORGANIZER | TECHNOLOGY | |
| MARTEZ DOMINIQUE | YANCEY | RALEIGH | NORTH CAROLINA | OMEGAPOINT PRODUXNS | FOUNDER | TECHNOLOGY | |