Catawba College student TyNia Rene' Brandon of Charlotte was crowned Miss Queen City 2013 on January 5 and is set to compete for the title of Miss North Carolina at the state pageant. The daughter of Tyrone and Sharon Brandon, she is a junior at Catawba, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre.
During the Miss Queen City Pageant, TyNia sang an Italian aria entitled "Star Vichino." She won the talent portion of the pageant with this moving operatic love song rendition.
In June, TyNia will join other young women from across the state at the state pageant. That competition includes a week long preliminary round of swimsuit, talent and evening gown competition, as well as a private interview. During the interview session, the contestants are expected to have knowledge about current affairs and be able to express their opinions about a newsworthy topic. The contestants will also need to be able to discuss their platform choice, and how it relates to the Miss America platform, "Children's Miracle Network." The statewide competition concludes with the crowning Miss North Carolina 2013 on a Saturday evening. At the Miss North Carolina pageant, TyNia plans to sing another Italian piece during the talent competition.
"The Miss North Carolina pageant is a great opportunity for me to gain exposure for my platform, Inspire the Fire," TyNia explained. "I see this opportunity as a bridge, a connection for all children, privileged and un–privileged. Our dreams are possible. Our present and future goals are attainable. I believe in what I represent: my faith, my family, my community, my school, my platform and my state.
"Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death."
TyNia has partnered with Inspire the Fire of Charlotte, a community-based organization founded by Catawba College alumnus Dennis Reed '06, that encourages and enables children and teens to express themselves through the arts. In addition to song and dance performances, this organization conducts a weeklong camp each summer called "The Experience." That camp allows the participants to study creative movement, vocal expression or stage and set design and culminates with a performance that displays the skills gained throughout the week. "The Experience" has grown to include over 300 young people from all around Charlotte. TyNia has been involved with Inspire the Fire for the past three years as a contributor to the creative movement and vocal part of the camp, as well as performing with the group.
TyNia began her voice training at the age of eight. She performed with the Charlotte Children's Choir, an auditioned community-based organization, for 10 years, under the direction of Sandy Holland. She continues to study voice while attending college, and has been featured in various musical performances.
At Catawba, TyNia has been involved in several theatre productions, including the 2012 production of the musical, "Legally Blonde." She and three other students also performed a dance at the October 2012 inauguration of Catawba's 23rd President Brien Lewis.
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