KATIE LENDA
Special to The Leader
Composer, arts advocate and Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin was proudly welcomed to Fredonia on Jan. 28 by the student organization, Ethos New Music Society.
Earlier that day, Franklin taught a master class for student composers, and later gave a lecture which was preceded by an open Q&A session.
Franklin touched upon topics including the struggles she has endured throughout her life, why she believes the arts are important, the real meaning of beauty and her journey of going from an everyday music student at East Carolina University to Miss America.
Franklin is everything one would expect Miss America to be: poised, intelligent and extremely talented.
She opened the lecture by playing her new single, “EarthSun,” which is available on all streaming platforms.
Franklin then began discussing her love and passion for music and how it stems back to her childhood.
She found it completely fitting to become a composer as she had been writing songs and singing in church since she was very young.
However, during her college career, Franklin faced several challenges.
During her early years of college, Franklin said that her father was battling cancer.
On top of that stressful time of her life, Franklin also discussed her struggles she faced in her music theory course, the difficulty of being a vocalist in the composition department and how being a woman of color in a male dominated field impacted her experience.
But nonetheless, Franklin persevered.
“If there’s something you want to do, don’t box yourself in. You can’t give up on yourself. If there is a goal you have, definitely fight for it,” Franklin said on facing these difficulties in her life.
Franklin experienced rejection as she began to enter beauty pageants.
She competed in multiple different pageants in her home state, North Carolina, but never secured the title of Miss North Carolina.
She decided to move on from pageants and began her career in New York City.
Several months after Franklin settled into her new life in New York, she received a call encouraging her to compete in the Miss New York pageant. She was skeptical, but ultimately ended up competing.
Franklin went on to win Miss New York, and then Miss America in 2019 after three years of competing.
When speaking on her experience, wins and losses in beauty pageants, Franklin said, “There is always room for improvement. I believe that wherever you are in your life is exactly where you are supposed to be. Trust that, and believe in yourself.”
During the Q&A portion of the lecture, Franklin was asked by a student about what can be done to encourage arts advocacy.
“It is really important to be present in the community when we are advocating for the arts,” she responded. “It is crucial to empower children to follow their dreams.”
Lastly, Franklin was asked by another student about what her definition of beauty is, to which she said, “Beauty is soul deep. Looks will fade, and it’s truly about your soul, your spirit and what you have to offer within.”
She also said she follows the quote by poet, John Keats, “Beauty is truth, truth is beauty.”
Franklin elaborated on that quote, saying, “Whatever your truth is to you, that’s your personal truth, because beauty is subjective.”
Franklin’s visit to campus allowed students of all majors to have the opportunity to have an open conversation on the highs and lows of one’s career.
Franklin shared her personal experiences to convey to students to never give up, because dreams take time.