Elegance, poise, and talent are just a few characteristics that exude through the new Ms. Howard University, junior Adrian Pruett. A native of Atlanta, Pruett comes from a strong background of education, success, and great example.
Prior to her crowning, Pruett received the honors of being crowned Miss Bethune Annex 2008-2009, Miss ResFest 2009-2010, and Miss College of Arts and Sciences 2009-2010, which led her to her current reign as Miss Howard University. In addition, Pruett has also been actively involved on campus. Her main commitment is to the Howard University Choir where she serves as the student conductor. She has also become a member of a number of organizations in the past and present, such as Howard Singers from 2007-2008, SAASY Jazz Vocal Ensemble from 2008-2009, and currently Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity Incorporated, Alpha Tau Chapter where she serves as programs chair.
Born and raised in the same house in College Park, Pruett is a true Georgia Peach. She is the youngest daughter in her family and she grew up with a wide diversity of friends. When her parents sent her to a school far away from their house she wasn’t able to participate in social activities after school. “I spent alot of time doing creative projects or finding ways to stay entertained especially since we didn’t have cable until I was in 8th grade. I still see the impacts of those days because to this day I can spend an entire day by myself and never get bored,” she said.
It was in eigth grade when Pruett first joined her middle school’s choir but only so that she could eat lunch with her friends. But this is were she found her voice. “I consider my voice a big part of who I am beacuse its the way I deliver the depths of my mind to people,” she said.
As a music education major, her involvement with the Howard University Choir has given Pruett the opportunity to travel various parts of the world, such as St. Petersburg, Russia and the People’s Republic of China which have proven to benefit her greatly.
As the representative of the female population at Howard University, Pruett plans to use her platform, “Where is the Love?: Getting Down to the Heart of the Matter On
Relationships in the Black Community.” “An alarming number of black women live life without every marrying, and furthermore the number of single parent homes is growing rapidly,” said Pruett. “[By] discussing and discovering the truths about internal and external relationships in the black community, my mission is to increase the percentage of double parent families amongst our people.”
Prior to last Friday’s pageant, Pruett developed a strong connection with alumna who formerly held the crown of Miss Howard from previous years. Through cultivating these relationships, Adrian learned that the biggest task of being Miss Howard University is maintaining your self-image. “I got the chance to meet a number of former Howard Queens, each of which had her own sense of self,” said Pruett. “It made even more sense then how Kendall Isadore [Miss Howard, 2008-2010)] always said, ‘No one can teach you how to be Miss Howard. You have to find the way that works for you to make change in your community.’”
In addition to her inspiring words for Pruett, Isadore, former Miss Howard University encouraged both Mr. and Miss Howard to not rush to achieve greatness, but to work at it.
“Sometimes people see the image or would see us at campus or off-campus events and expect that we always had it together,” said Isadore. “I just took it one step at a time. When I felt overwhelmed, I stopped and took time to myself. Times will get rough, but you must rely on each other, your court, your advisor, friends and family to carry you through.”
With the middle name “Love,” which was the name that every one called her great grandmother on her father’s side, Pruett said it speaks to the both ancestral side and guiding principle in her life. “it reminds me of the lineage of women that worked so that I can stand where I chose to stand in life.”
Pruett has big plans to increase awareness of relationships in the black community, starting with promoting her ideals and plans within the District community. “My philosophy is that by tackling the issues of self love, healthy couple relationships, and understanding of family responsibility, we as Bison will be more prone to have stable family relationships, thus creating a more comfortable world for the next generation,” said Pruett.
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