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| caption = Toni Seawright becomes the first African-American announced Miss Mississippi in 1987.
| caption = Toni Seawright becomes the first African-American announced Miss Mississippi in 1987.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|6|25}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|6|25}}
| birth_place = [[Pascagoula, Mississippi|Pascagoula]], Mississippi
| birth_place = [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date =
| birth_name = Toni Deniece Seawright
| birth_name = Toni Deniece Seawright
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}}
}}


'''Toni Deniece Seawright''' (born June 25, 1964) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. In 1987, Seawright made history as the first African American to become [[Miss Mississippi]] and was the fourth runner-up in 1988's [[Miss America 1988|Miss America]] pageant.<ref name=NYTimes2>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/20/us/black-is-miss-mississippi.html|title=Black Is Miss Mississippi|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 20, 1987|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}
'''Toni Deniece Seawright''' (born June 25, 1964) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. In 1987 Seawright was the first African American to become [[Miss Mississippi]], and in 1988 was fourth runner-up in the [[Miss America 1988|Miss America]] pageant.<ref name=NYTimes2>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/20/us/black-is-miss-mississippi.html|title=Black Is Miss Mississippi|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 20, 1987|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}
</ref><ref name=MissAmerica>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/missusamagicf/MA1988Delegates.html|title=Miss America 1988 Delegates|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/missusamagicf/MA1988Delegates.html&date=2009-10-26+02:45:20|archivedate=October 26, 2009|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}
</ref><ref name=MissAmerica>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/missusamagicf/MA1988Delegates.html|title=Miss America 1988 Delegates|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022013015/http://geocities.com/missusamagicf/MA1988Delegates.html|archivedate=October 22, 2009|url-status=dead|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}
</ref>
</ref>


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Seawright was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She attended [[Mississippi University for Women]] in [[Columbus, Mississippi]],<ref name=NYTimes2/> where she was the first African American to earn a degree in music at Mississippi University for Women, and majored in Vocal Music and Business at that university. Toni became the first African American to hold a recital in vocal music at MUW as well. She went on to compete for Miss ''W'', the local chapter preliminary to the [[Miss America Pageant]] and won. This win put her in the position to compete for the state's Miss Mississippi Pageant in 1987.<ref name=MississippiRises>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965978,00.html|title=Mississippi Rises Again|author=Jackson-Winbush, Don|publisher=[[Times Publishing Company|The Times]]|date=November 16, 1987|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}
Seawright was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She attended [[Mississippi University for Women]] in [[Columbus, Mississippi]],<ref name=NYTimes2/> where she was the first African American to earn a degree in music at Mississippi University for Women, and majored in Vocal Music and Business at that university. Toni became the first African American to hold a recital in vocal music at MUW as well. She went on to compete for Miss ''W'', the local chapter preliminary to the [[Miss America Pageant]] and won. This win put her in the position to compete for the state's Miss Mississippi Pageant in 1987.<ref name=MississippiRises>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965978,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220085206/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965978,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2008|title=Mississippi Rises Again|author=Jackson-Winbush, Don|work=[[Times Publishing Company|The Times]]|date=November 16, 1987|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}
</ref> She went on to capture the coveted crown, making history as the very first African American to ever win.<ref name=NYTimes2/><ref name=MississippiRises/> She was the fourth runner-up in the Miss America Pageant,<ref name=MissAmerica/> representing the state of Mississippi in 1987.<ref name=NYTimes2/>
</ref> She went on to capture the coveted crown, making history as the very first African American to ever win.<ref name=NYTimes2/><ref name=MississippiRises/> She was the fourth runner-up in the Miss America Pageant,<ref name=MissAmerica/> representing the state of Mississippi in 1987.<ref name=NYTimes2/>


[[File:Toni Seawright plays the mother of Parrish Diaz in Tony Clomax's "12 Steps to Recovery".jpg|thumb|right|Toni Seawright playing the mother of Parrish Diaz in Tony Clomax's ''12 Steps to Recovery'']]
[[File:Toni Seawright plays the mother of Parrish Diaz in Tony Clomax's "12 Steps to Recovery".jpg|thumb|right|Toni Seawright playing the mother of Parrish Diaz in Tony Clomax's ''12 Steps to Recovery'']]
Seawright sang background vocals for artists such as [[Teena Marie]], [[Freddie Jackson]], [[Tony Terry]], [[RuPaul]], [[Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy]], and [[Laura Branigan]]. Seawright starred alongside [[Stephanie Mills]] and [[Andre DeShields]] in the musical ''[[The Wiz]]''. Ms. Seawright made her Broadway debut in ''Street Corner Symphony'' and ''Delta Rising'', both at the 651 Arts Theater. She also starred in the off-Broadway play ''Josh (The Black Babe Ruth)/Satchel (Requiem for Racism)'' at the National Federal Theater (also known as the Abron Arts Center), and Sister Ann in the [[AUDELCO]] award-winning play ''What Would Jesus Do?'' at the Billie Holiday Theater. Seawright most recently appeared starring as Miss Mamie in "The Widow and Miss Mamie" at the Harlem School of the Arts.
Seawright sang background vocals for artists such as [[Teena Marie]], [[Freddie Jackson]], [[Tony Terry]], [[RuPaul]], [[Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy]], and [[Laura Branigan]]. Seawright starred alongside [[Stephanie Mills]] and [[Andre DeShields]] in the musical ''[[The Wiz]]''. Ms. Seawright made her Broadway debut in ''Street Corner Symphony'' and ''Delta Rising'', both at the 651 Arts Theater. She also starred in the off-Broadway play ''Josh (The Black Babe Ruth)/Satchel (Requiem for Racism)'' at the National Federal Theater (also known as the Abron Arts Center), and Sister Ann in the [[AUDELCO]] award-winning play ''What Would Jesus Do?'' at the Billie Holiday Theater. Seawright most recently appeared starring as Miss Mamie in "The Widow and Miss Mamie" at [[the Harlem School of the Arts]].


Seawright is currently writing and producing material for her two sons, [[Qaasim Middleton]] and Khalil Middleton. The duo have worked with famed producers [[Full Force]] as well as Magick Blyss Entertainment, founded by Kevin Hunte, of ''[[So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series)|So You Think You Can Dance]]'' fame. Seawright's ex-husband is Keith "Wild Child" Middleton, who starred in ''STOMP''. The two had two sons together, Qaasim and Kahlil.<ref name=NYTimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/07/arts/television/07musi.html|title=Big Sounds, All but Bursting Out of Small Packages|author=Shattuck, Kathryn|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 7, 2006|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}</ref><ref name=BuddyTV>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/qaasim-middleton.aspx|title=Qaasim Middleton – Pictures, Rumors Qaasim Middleton from The Naked Brothers Band Updated|publisher=BuddyTV|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}
Seawright is currently writing and producing material for her two sons, [[Qaasim Middleton]] and Khalil Middleton. The duo have worked with famed producers [[Full Force]] as well as Magick Blyss Entertainment, founded by Kevin Hunte, of ''[[So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series)|So You Think You Can Dance]]'' fame. Seawright's ex-husband is Keith "Wild Child" Middleton, who starred in ''STOMP''. The two had two sons together, Qaasim and Kahlil.<ref name=NYTimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/07/arts/television/07musi.html|title=Big Sounds, All but Bursting Out of Small Packages|author=Shattuck, Kathryn|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 7, 2006|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}</ref><ref name=BuddyTV>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/qaasim-middleton.aspx|title=Qaasim Middleton – Pictures, Rumors Qaasim Middleton from The Naked Brothers Band Updated|publisher=BuddyTV|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}
</ref> Seawright has guest starred twice on the [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] musical comedy series ''[[The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)|The Naked Brothers Band]]'',<ref name=TV.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/everybody-cried-at-least-once/episode/1184949/summary.html?user_rating=0&rating_ref_type=103|title=The Naked Brothers Band: Everybody's Cried at Least Once|publisher=[[TV.com]]|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}</ref> which co-stars her on-and-off-screen son, Qaasim, who appeared in [[HBO]]'s ''The Music in Me''. Seawright's younger son, Khalil, starred in [[Noggin (TV channel)|Noggin]]'s ''[[Jack's Big Music Show]]''. Qaasim was a finalist on Season 14 of ''[[American Idol (season 14)|American Idol]]''.<ref>[http://www.americanidol.com/contestant/qaasim-middleton] {{dead link|date=February 2021}}</ref>
</ref> Seawright has guest starred twice on the [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] musical comedy series ''[[The Naked Brothers Band (TV series)|The Naked Brothers Band]]'',<ref name=TV.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/everybody-cried-at-least-once/episode/1184949/summary.html?user_rating=0&rating_ref_type=103|title=The Naked Brothers Band: Everybody's Cried at Least Once|publisher=[[TV.com]]|accessdate=May 19, 2012}}</ref> which co-stars her on-and-off-screen son, Qaasim, who appeared in [[HBO]]'s ''The Music in Me''. Seawright's younger son, Khalil, starred in [[Noggin (TV channel)|Noggin]]'s ''[[Jack's Big Music Show]]''. Qaasim was a finalist on Season 14 of ''[[American Idol (season 14)|American Idol]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanidol.com/contestant/qaasim-middleton |title=Get to Know Qaasim Middleton &#124; American Idol on FOX |website=www.americanidol.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227101854/http://www.americanidol.com/contestant/qaasim-middleton |archive-date=27 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


On March 16, 2020, she disclosed that she had tested positive for the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|coronavirus]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Josh |title=Former Miss Mississippi Toni Seawright says she has tested positive for the coronavirus |url=https://www.wlbt.com/2020/03/17/former-miss-mississippi-toni-seawright-says-she-has-tested-positive-coronavirus/ |website=WLBT.com |publisher=WLBT-TV |accessdate=March 17, 2020}}</ref>
On March 16, 2020, she disclosed that she had tested positive for the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|coronavirus]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Josh |title=Former Miss Mississippi Toni Seawright says she has tested positive for the coronavirus |url=https://www.wlbt.com/2020/03/17/former-miss-mississippi-toni-seawright-says-she-has-tested-positive-coronavirus/ |website=WLBT.com |date=March 17, 2020 |publisher=WLBT-TV |accessdate=March 17, 2020}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
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[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American female singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:African-American actresses]]
[[Category:African-American actresses]]
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[[Category:Miss America 1988 delegates]]
[[Category:Miss America 1988 delegates]]
[[Category:Miss Mississippi winners]]
[[Category:Miss Mississippi winners]]
[[Category:American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:African-American beauty pageant winners]]

Latest revision as of 05:52, 26 February 2024

Toni Seawright
Toni Seawright becomes the first African-American announced Miss Mississippi in 1987.
Born
Toni Deniece Seawright

(1964-06-25) June 25, 1964 (age 60)
Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress
singer-songwriter
Years active1987–present

Toni Deniece Seawright (born June 25, 1964) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. In 1987 Seawright was the first African American to become Miss Mississippi, and in 1988 was fourth runner-up in the Miss America pageant.[1][2]

Life and career

[edit]

Seawright was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She attended Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi,[1] where she was the first African American to earn a degree in music at Mississippi University for Women, and majored in Vocal Music and Business at that university. Toni became the first African American to hold a recital in vocal music at MUW as well. She went on to compete for Miss W, the local chapter preliminary to the Miss America Pageant and won. This win put her in the position to compete for the state's Miss Mississippi Pageant in 1987.[3] She went on to capture the coveted crown, making history as the very first African American to ever win.[1][3] She was the fourth runner-up in the Miss America Pageant,[2] representing the state of Mississippi in 1987.[1]

Toni Seawright playing the mother of Parrish Diaz in Tony Clomax's 12 Steps to Recovery

Seawright sang background vocals for artists such as Teena Marie, Freddie Jackson, Tony Terry, RuPaul, Shaggy, and Laura Branigan. Seawright starred alongside Stephanie Mills and Andre DeShields in the musical The Wiz. Ms. Seawright made her Broadway debut in Street Corner Symphony and Delta Rising, both at the 651 Arts Theater. She also starred in the off-Broadway play Josh (The Black Babe Ruth)/Satchel (Requiem for Racism) at the National Federal Theater (also known as the Abron Arts Center), and Sister Ann in the AUDELCO award-winning play What Would Jesus Do? at the Billie Holiday Theater. Seawright most recently appeared starring as Miss Mamie in "The Widow and Miss Mamie" at the Harlem School of the Arts.

Seawright is currently writing and producing material for her two sons, Qaasim Middleton and Khalil Middleton. The duo have worked with famed producers Full Force as well as Magick Blyss Entertainment, founded by Kevin Hunte, of So You Think You Can Dance fame. Seawright's ex-husband is Keith "Wild Child" Middleton, who starred in STOMP. The two had two sons together, Qaasim and Kahlil.[4][5] Seawright has guest starred twice on the Nickelodeon musical comedy series The Naked Brothers Band,[6] which co-stars her on-and-off-screen son, Qaasim, who appeared in HBO's The Music in Me. Seawright's younger son, Khalil, starred in Noggin's Jack's Big Music Show. Qaasim was a finalist on Season 14 of American Idol.[7]

On March 16, 2020, she disclosed that she had tested positive for the coronavirus.[8]

Filmography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Black Is Miss Mississippi". The New York Times. July 20, 1987. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Miss America 1988 Delegates". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Jackson-Winbush, Don (November 16, 1987). "Mississippi Rises Again". The Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  4. ^ Shattuck, Kathryn (October 7, 2006). "Big Sounds, All but Bursting Out of Small Packages". The New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  5. ^ "Qaasim Middleton – Pictures, Rumors Qaasim Middleton from The Naked Brothers Band Updated". BuddyTV. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  6. ^ "The Naked Brothers Band: Everybody's Cried at Least Once". TV.com. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  7. ^ "Get to Know Qaasim Middleton | American Idol on FOX". www.americanidol.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  8. ^ Carter, Josh (March 17, 2020). "Former Miss Mississippi Toni Seawright says she has tested positive for the coronavirus". WLBT.com. WLBT-TV. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
[edit]
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