Terysa Singleton
2006 - 2007 Miss Black Louisiana USA

Terysa Shavon Singleton was born in Lafayette, Louisiana but raised in Sunset, Louisiana. After graduating from Beau Chene High School in May 2001, Terysa went on to study Computer Science at Southern University and A & M College where she later received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science.

She is currently a software engineer at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona. From childhood, Terysa has always been an ambitious, over-achieving young lady with a passion for competing in pageants. Her enthusiasm for pageantry stemmed from a very early involvement in formal dance training. She was voted the 2001 Basketball Homecoming Queen by her senior class and crowned "Miss Beau Chene High School". In addition to the recognition received from the Beau Chene High School student body, Terysa competed in the 2001 Southern University Alumni Debutante Ball and walked away with the two most prestigious awards of the night, the Judges Award, given to the contestant who exemplifies the characteristics of a queen based on interviews, talent, and beauty, and the title of 2001 Southern University Alumni Debutante Queen.

Throughout her collegiate career Terysa excelled in academics, extra-curricular activities, and volunteer work. As a Soror of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Terysa held several key positions including the Keeper of Properties and successfully chaired many committees. In addition to her service as a Delta, Terysa maintained an active role in campus activities such as Secretary in the Southern University Pan-Hellenic Council, founding member of the House of Couture, a modeling troupe initiated on the campus of Southern University in 2006 - She currently holds a post on the Presidential Cabinet for the House of Couture. , Southern Digest, the Jaguar Yearbook Staff, Association of Women Students (AWS), and the Student Government Association (SGA) .

Terysa’s strong sense of humanitarianism has been recognized on several occasions. In 2006, Terysa was presented with the esteemed Unsung Hero Award by the Greater Baton Rouge chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for efforts to uplift the community by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and countless other activities and projects. She was given two scholarships for her continued research on Artificial Intelligence with the Strengthening Minority Access for Research and Training (SMART) Program. She has also earned the title of SMART Scholar.

When the opportunity to represent the state of Louisiana in the 2007 Miss Black USA pageant presented itself, Terysa made her decision to embark on this great adventure with a confirmation from God. She counts the opportunity to represent the great state of Louisiana as Miss Black Louisiana USA 2006-2007 as both a privilege and an honor.