Cierra Kaler-Jones
| Cierra Kaler-Jones | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Cierra Kaler-Jones May 29, 1993 |
| Residence | Galloway Township, New Jersey |
| Ethnicity | African American, Native American, Irish, Filipino, and German |
| Education | Rutgers University (Social Work, Women's and Gender Studies, Criminology, Critical and Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies) |
| Occupation | Pre-Law undergraduate |
| Title |
Miss New Jersey 2014 Miss Atlantic County Miss Northern Lakes, Miss Cape Shores Miss Coastal Shore |
| Predecessor | Cara McCollum (Miss New Jersey) |
| Website | http://ckalerjones.blogspot.com |
Cierra Kaler-Jones (born May 29, 1993) is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss New Jersey 2014.[1] She is the second African American to win the title of Miss New Jersey after Suzette Charles in 1983. Her "heritage also includes Native American, Irish, Filipino and German ancestry."[2][3]
Background
Kaler-Jones is from Galloway Township, New Jersey[3] and attended Absegami High School.[4] She is a first generation college student at Rutgers University majoring in social work, with a triple minor in women's and gender studies, critical and comparative race and ethnic studies, and criminology.[1][3][4] She spent her first three years at Rutgers on the nationally ranked Rutgers University Dance Team. She has also completed a certificate in Women's Leadership.[4] In addition, she has been a research assistant in the Rutgers School of Social Work and has interned with the ACLU of New Jersey and the criminal justice division of the state attorney general's office.[3]
Kaler-Jones plans to pursue a joint law degree with a master's in education policy, for a career in education law and policy.[3][4] She states that she has "always wanted to be a lawyer" and hopes to advocate for "equal opportunities for all students, particularly in urban and at-risk districts."[2] Her long-term goal is to become the United States Secretary of Education.[3]
Pageants
Kaler-Jones is a former Miss Atlantic County, Miss Northern Lakes, Miss Cape Shores, and Miss Coastal Shore.[3] In response to questions about the relevance of the Miss America pageant, she has stated: "What's more relevant than a powerful woman?"[3] She was named Miss New Jersey 2014 on June 14 with the platform: "Empowering Today’s Youth Through Arts Education."[4] Her talent is a self-choreographed contemporary dance to Beyoncé's "Listen" [4] (she is a member of Rutgers Dance Team).[3]
Kaler-Jones competed in part because some people told her that she "couldn't be Miss New Jersey because I didn't look a certain way or didn't fit a certain mold" and she wondered why not.[2]
Video interviews
References
- 1 2 "Rutgers Student Crowned Miss New Jersey". University Herald. June 6, 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- 1 2 3 "New Miss New Jersey has arts and law interests". philly.com. June 17, 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Miss America 2015: Miss New Jersey's heart belongs to Atlantic City, Rutgers". nj.com. June 17, 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Local Girl Cierra Kaler-Jones is Crowned Miss New Jersey 2014 in Ocean City". AC Weekley. July 17, 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
External links
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cara McCollum |
Miss New Jersey 2014 |
Succeeded by Lindsey Giannini |
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