Vision loss does not break us; it builds us!
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Home of Dancing With The Blind and Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant

Miss Blind Diva Logo: a young business woman with a stylish business casual outfit and a crown on her head. She is holding a cane, a green suitcase, and is surrounded by beautiful multi-color butterflies.

2024 Application & Information Page

The 2024 Miss Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant is now accepting applications!

The mission of the Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant is to empower women with vision loss by providing tools to cultivate and encourage their daily life experiences. 

Miss Blind Diva Mondays

Miss Blind Diva Meeting Schedule 2024

 January 1 8 15 22 29
 February 5 12 19 26
 March 4 11 18 25
 April 1 8 15 22 29
 May 6 13 20 27
 June 3 10 17 24 31
 July 1 8 15 22 29
 August 5 12 19 26
 September 2 9 16 23 30
 October 7 14 21 28
 November 4 11 18 25
 December 2 9 16 23 30

The 2024 Miss Blind Diva Application

Please submit the following application in order to be considered as a contestant for the 2024 Miss Blind Diva Pageant!

Prior to beginning the application, please note;

  1. There is a 25 dollar submission fee, payable via PayPal at the end of the application.
  2. Please use your phone or other appropriate device to record a 1-3 minute max video of yourself independently doing something that you would do in your everyday life and describing why you believe that you should be the 2024 titleholder. After completing your video, please upload it to YouTube and share the link in the appropriate spot below. Feel free to use music and be creative! For examples of videos submitted in the past, please visit our Youtube channel here. Again, there will be a spot to drop the link to your video in the application below.
  3. The deadline for submissions is July 31st, 2024.

Our 2023 Winner

KIANA

Meet Kiana Vion Glanton

Winner of the 2023 Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment and Ms. Independent Pageant

Kiana Vion Glanton is a graduate of Stony Brook University She is an essential member of the Fundraising and Developmentteam at Lighthouse Guild, a non -profit organization supporting the blind and low vision community through medical vocational and rehabilitation services. At Lighthouse Guild, Kiana is the lead advocate and ambassador for Adaptive Athletics. She is the current Secretary for the U.S. Blind Baseball Association and is the current Co-Captain of the Lighthouse Guild Lightning blind baseball team. Kiana holds the distinction of being the only Black woman to earn a medal for the U.S.A. in any world championship for Blind Baseball (Bronze medal 2022 Beek, Netherlands). Most notably, Kiana is the proud mother of one exceptional child, her 8 year-old Kali J. Vion. Kiana credits Kali as the driving force for entering and winning the 2023 Miss Independent Challenge and 2023 Miss Blind Diva Pageant. She is quoted as saying, “I wear this crown so that she can visualize what is possible when a D.I.V.A. Diligence, Integrity, Vivaciousness and Authenticity, puts on her own crown.”

Our Ms. Blind Diva Pageant Empowerment 2022 Winner

Goddest Johnson Diva Title Holder

Meet Goddest Johnson

Winner of the 2022 Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant

Goddest is well known as “FIGHT” (Faith Is Getting Her Through).  Goddest soul provides a real-life comprehensive perspective or living an independent successful life beyond vision loss as she utilizes comprehensive skill training classes, resource training, community outreach events to educate as well as motivate and show what is possible to blind and visually impaired adults and children by allowing them to live a productive and independent life beyond vision loss.
Goddest travels the world and has done speaking engagement.  May 15, 2022, she received an honorary and was the only honorary who was asked to speak to over 500 Women at “Women Of Orlando luncheon (“Orem by Monique Scott Nichols”). Many of her friends flew from various areas in the United States to see her speak that sold out the event.  Rising above expectations is something that comes as no obstacle to Goddest.  Goddest was born in September 1980 and spent the early part of her childhood residing in Chicago Illinois with her mother; a single parent who suffered from mental illness and a severe drug addiction.  Goddest was the oldest of her four siblings in which her childhood took a major change when she was seven years old and her mother went to prison for life. At the most trying time in her life at this point she began her journey as becoming a client of the foster care system.  By the age of 15, Goddest has had already live in over nine different foster homes and 11 different group homes. Due to several different circumstances Goddest has made the decision to become emancipated at the age of 16 and take on the responsibility of an adult.
Later she became the sole guardian of her sister and was determined to show her what could be possible with determination and staying focused. To set this example Goddest became the first one of her siblings to graduate from high school. When Goddest was 21 years of age her younger brother went to prison and was given 44 years, this left her devastated but shined a new light towards her future. At this point she was determined to keep reaching out and breaking the cycle to give others hope and something to look up to.  Goddest, went on to obtain her bachelor’s from NOVA Southeastern University which was one of the greatest accomplishments.  Goddest needed a way to give back so becoming a nurse only seemed like a perfect idea to her.  Perfect until life took another unexpected turn in February 2009.  Goddest was involved in a tragic car accident which left her legally blind.  In spite of all of Goddest obstacles that she face, the proudest moment was when she met the mother of NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal (Shack) Lucille O’Neil who interviewed her and was brought to tears while she stated to Goddest that Goddest was her inspiration and how Goddest touched her life in a major way by giving her the motivation to press through when most people did not know that she was struggling with her own visual impairment.  Goddest shared that Lucille O’Neil was the first person who inspired her to share her story and she has been doing so since.
This amazing woman of God has many amazing stories that put tears to the eyes of the listener when she speaks.”

Our Ms. Independent 2022 Winner

Ms. Independent 2022 Talia Wooder picture

Meet Talia Woodard

Winner of the 2022 Ms. Independent Pageant

Talia Woodard is a licensed massage therapist specializing in pregnancy massage. Talia enjoys reading, swimming, and cooking. Talia has a passion for advocating for the blind and is actively involved in many organizations that cater to the needs of the blind and visually impaired. Talia aims to inspire others, specifically those in the blind community that the possibilities are endless!

Diva Title Holders

Goddest Johnson, Miss Blind Diva 2022 and Talia Woodard, Miss Independent 2022

Our 2021 Winner

Meet Naomi Panarella

Winner of the 2021 Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant
Naomi Panarella, lives in Houston, Texas, attended the University of Houston and graduate with a degree in Communications. Naomi works as an executive assistant for an oil and gas company. She enjoys reading, exercising, yoga, dancing, baking and educating sighted individuals about her visual impairment, Retinitis Pigmentosa.