WS Chronicle

Karen Arrington, the founder of Miss Black USA, international speaker and world-renowned author, is our most recent winner of the 51st NAACP Image Award for Literary Excellence.  

Not only is Arrington the founder of the world’s longest running African American female pageant in the country, but she also serves as an ambassador to many African countries on behalf of the United States. Arrington’s mission is to change the perception of African American women globally.  

Arrington is an award-winning author, women’s empowerment expert and global philanthropist.  Her coaching, mentoring and philanthropic work spans over 100,000 hours of service — including her position as a Goodwill Ambassador to Sierra Leone, her work as the co- founder of the first Diabetes Awareness Day in West Africa, and her role as the founder of The Miss Black USA Pageant. 

She has been honored by The Lifetime Network, Woman’s Day magazine, Jones New York, and other major media outlets for her tireless advocacy for women’s health, success and empowerment. Her book, “Your Next Level Life,” won a 2020 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary work.                     

Over the past 20 years, Arrington has helped over 1,000 women step into powerful careers in media, business, medicine and law — transcending hardship, abuse and financial limitations, and transforming their lives and communities.                

Today, Arrington offers private coaching and global service retreats in Abu Dhabi, Capetown, Greece, Milan, and Bali for ambitious Black women who want to live their best lives — only better.

Arrington is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc and resides in Washington, D.C.