Annette Addo-Yobo’s journey to becoming the next Miss Texas seemed improbable until it became a reality. She made history by becoming the first immigrant-born Ghanaian to win the title in the Miss Texas Scholarship Organization.
Despite being born in Ghana and raised in Canada before settling in Texas, Addo-Yobo did not fit the conventional pageant stereotype. She describes herself as a former tomboy who found the idea of pageantry intimidating.
It wasn’t until her senior year of college that she ventured into the world of pageants, winning the Ms. Black and Old Gold Scholarship pageant on her first attempt. However, her pageant journey was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As she contemplated her next steps, Addo-Yobo drew inspiration from historical achievements in beauty pageants by Black women like Nia Franklin. However, her dream of participating in Miss America seemed distant due to her non-citizenship status.
After becoming a U.S. citizen in 2022, Addo-Yobo embarked on her journey to become the next Miss Texas, fueled by her friend’s success in the pageant. Despite financial challenges, she overcame the odds and won the Miss Texas title.
Her victory as the first Ghanaian and immigrant-born Miss Texas garnered support from the African community and highlighted the importance of cultural humility ingrained in her Ghanaian heritage.
Looking ahead, Addo-Yobo is focused on advocacy, particularly concerning autism awareness and safety, inspired by her autistic brother. She plans to use her platform to promote education and training for law enforcement in handling situations involving individuals on the autism spectrum.
With her eyes set on the Miss America crown and future aspirations in law and public service, Addo-Yobo encourages young women to stay true to themselves and believe in their capabilities.