Shilah Phillips
Shilah Precious Phillips (born November 1981) is an American entertainer, beauty pageant contestant, and the 2006 winner of the Miss Texas title. She is the first African American winner of the coveted crown in its 75-year history. Phillips competed for the 2007 Miss America title on January 29, 2007, placing first runner-up to Miss Oklahoma, Lauren Paige Nelson who was crowned as Miss America 2007. Shilah also gained a preliminary talent award and CMT's viewer’s choice talent award voted by 7.5 million viewers. Shilah was also featured on the MTV series Pageant School. In 2009, Shilah appeared on MTV's hit show "Made: Kyra Gray Episode" where she turned a street skater into a "Pageant Queen” . Shilah Phillips got her start in the music industry by making it as a semi-finalist on American Idol Season 3.
Education
Phillips attended the Denver School of the Arts from sixth grade until graduating from high school in 2000. She studied both vocal music and theater in her time at DSA.
Phillips began studying jazz music at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and, while there received the Most Outstanding Vocalist award. After moving to Texas she began study with the exceptional vocal pedagogue Professor David Alexander. Miss Shilah used her scholarship money to complete her bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas in 2011.University of North Texas.
Notable achievements
Phillips won the 2006 Miss Frisco title on 30 October 2005.[1]
Phillips is the first African-American to hold the Miss Texas title when on 8 July 2006, at age 24 years, she won the pageant on her first attempt. She is only the second woman in the history of the program to win the title on her first try.[2] She competed as Miss Frisco, sponsored by the Miss Plano Frisco Scholarship Organization. She placed 1st Runner Up at Miss America, 2007[3]