Milwaukee’s Raniyah Edwards brings purpose, faith and communityto Prairie View’s top student honor

Crowned Ms. Juneteenth 2019, the 94th Miss Prairie View A&M University says her foundation of faith, family and community prepared her to lead — and encourages others to walk boldly in their purpose.

By Launita Dawson

For Raniyah Edwards, every title has meant something deeper than recognition it has been a responsibility.

The Milwaukee native, now serving as the 94th Miss Prairie View A&M University for the 2026–27 academic year, credits her journey not to chance, but to the people and faith that shaped her along the way. “I’m a product of community,” Edwards said, a statement that reflects the neighborhoods, churches and cultural spaces that helped raise her.
But just as central to her story is the steady influence of her mother, whose words and encouragement helped guide her through moments of uncertainty. Whether stepping onto a stage or stepping into a new opportunity, Edwards said her mother consistently pushed her forward—even when she hesitated.

Before stepping onto Prairie View’s stage, Edwards was already representing her city with pride as Miss Juneteenth 2019. But even that moment came with doubt. On the day of the pageant, she recalled quietly asking her mother if she really had to go through with it. Her mother’s response was simple and direct: go out there. Edwards did and she won.
That moment became more than a title. It became a lesson in courage, trust and showing up.

From performing with Signature Dance Company and Black Arts MKE to stepping into leadership roles at school, Edwards built her voice early. Opportunities didn’t always come with certainty, but they came with encouragement from home. “Faith is always an action,” she said. “It’s not always something that you see. It’s something that you do.”

That belief was reinforced again when she made the bold decision to attend Prairie View A&M University, the only school she applied to even with the reality of out-of-state tuition ahead of her. She and her family didn’t know exactly how it would be paid for, but her mother’s words stayed with her: if it’s meant for you, it will work out.
And it did.

By the time Edwards stepped onto campus, scholarships and support had covered the cost. That moment, she said, confirmed everything she had been taught about faith, trust and obedience.

At Prairie View, Edwards didn’t just attend, she answered every opportunity placed before her. She studied abroad in Mexico, interned with Wisconsin State Sen. LaTonya Johnson, lived and learned in Washington, D.C., and later traveled to Sweden as one of only 10 students worldwide selected for the Future Nobel Laureate Scholarship.
Each step strengthened her commitment to serving others. “Policy gives you room to make action on behalf of others who cannot,” she said.

Still, her approach remained simple and rooted in the same encouragement she grew up with: “I just say yes.”

When Edwards decided to run for Miss Prairie View, she said it was never about the crown itself. It was about impact. Her platform, “The Promised Land,” calls students to embrace their history, access the resources around them and remain engaged in shaping their communities.

“When we’re all taken care of, we lift as we rise,” she said.

Now, as the first person from the Milwaukee area to hold the title, Edwards carries her city with her—not just in na

me, but in mission. Her leadership reflects the same lessons poured into her: show up, stay grounded and use your voice for something bigger than yourself.
And through it all, she remains anchored in the identity that came long before any title.

“These titles are assets, but they are not my identity,” she said. “I am Raniyah Edwards. I’m a daughter of God.”

For Milwaukee, her story is more than a milestone—it reflects what happens when a community invests deeply in its young people, and when those young people carry that investment forward.

It is also a message, especially for the next generation watching her rise:

“Keep going.
Don’t let the no stop you.
Lean on your faith.
And when the moment comes—step forward anyway.”

Because sometimes, as Edwards learned early on, all it takes is someone who believes in you saying: “Go out there.”