Editor's Note: The Eastern Echo staff is meeting regularly with interesting people both on and off campus. Engage in those conversations with us, through our weekly Q&A report. This week, Myranda Wiggins, a senior at Eastern Michigan University, who was chosen at the 2024 Black Homecoming Queen.
Homecoming is a time that brings together students and alumni, and in addition to celebrating the university's 175th birthday this year's celebrations included the traditional Black Homecoming activities and the selection of a 2024 Black Homecoming Queen. Myranda Wiggins, an Eastern Michigan University senior and a member of the university theater crew, said she hadn't thought about running for the honor until she did.
Q: How long have you been a student at EMU?
A: This is my senior year, so four years now.
Q: What is your major?
A: So, it’s the comprehensive major, the communications, media studies, and theatre arts.
Q: Are you a part of any orgs on campus?
A: I am. I’m a part of Sistas That Care, which is an org that focuses on women’s mental health. I’m a part of Black Student Union and then I’m president of Burning Bush College which is a Christian org that we have here on campus.
Q: What inspired you to run for homecoming queen?
A: The tea is, when I came up here that was not on my mind. I was thinking about it. I said I don’t know if I should run, maybe I should run. Then a really good friend of mine who won last year, I was talking to her about it. She said, “I think you should do it,” and I replied, “I don’t know.” I talked to my friends about it. I called some of my family and friends from home. They said “I think you should do it; you know, you’re very well known on campus. A lot of people know you” and I said "OK." And we put it in, and I guess we did our big one. But it was definitely not on the schedule at first. I’m excited I did it though.
Q: What tools did you use to encourage students to vote for you?
A: I have to give a huge shout out to our campaign team. Jordan and I had a couple of our friends help out with a bunch of the campaigning. Social media was a huge thing. Making sure we were getting our stuff out on social media. Using TikTok for what kind of videos could we post. Also, being appealing to students; what do they want from us? The last day of voting, Jordan and I were going around giving out water and homemade cookies that we made to students. Also, just showing our face at other events. Just making sure we’re showing our appreciation for the students here on campus.
Q: What was your favorite part about being on the homecoming court?
A: Running with some of my friends, I think it was fun. I think, also, the whole process, the pictures, promotion and campaign, was fun. I remember a lot of people from my home asked, “Can we vote?” I said, “You can’t, only if you go to EMU,” but they also said, “We’re really enjoying the content that you’re promoting, please keep it going.” We try not to do too many repeats when, you know, promoting the content but, making sure each content was original. We did a lot of stuff together but then I posted some by myself and Jordan posted some content by himself. Even though we were running together also giving a chance for people to learn the candidates on their own individually as well.
Q: Were there any challenges you encountered while running for queen? At any point did you feel like you might not win?
A: In full transparency yes, I kept pulling back and forth because even though we were the first people to announce, I did get a little bit intimidated when other people started to announce as well. I said, “Oh, so now I’m not going to win, I have competition.” At first it was just me and I said, “Oh that's it, I got it in the bag.” I don’t know, I think it was also because I knew some of the candidates and I’m really, really close with some of them. So, it was kind of fun running against them, but I did get a little bit intimidated. In full transparency, just praying and making sure that if God wants this for me, it’s going to be for me. I did sometimes go back and forth. I was texting one of my friends and another friend was running. I said, “She’s running, I don't think I can do it.” She said, “Myranda you’re fine, you still have a lot of people.”
Q: What was your reaction when finding out you won?
A: I remember it like it was yesterday. It was probably one of my favorite days of the whole year. Well, first of all, all my friends came. My friends here, and I wanted my friends from back at home to come, but they weren’t able to make it. My friends here came, some people from my church came outside and I was very surprised that they came out. One of my best friends, Erica, who goes to my church came out. They were doing the yard show and then it was intermission and Coop said, “Can all the candidates come down.” I said, “OK, here we go.” I went down with my friend Mykah Burton, who was running against me. I was literally just shaking. I was literally like "OK, deep breaths, deep breaths" and said, “God if this is for me, it's for me.” Then they announced the Homecoming King and Queen runner ups, which were Kamani and Mykah. Then they announced the Homecoming King, and it was Jordan. I said "Yay" then "Oh lord if it’s not me I’m going to cry and break down." She said Myranda Wiggins and I started crying. I was frozen but all I know is everyone was screaming Myranda, Myranda. All my best friends were screaming and my friends from back at home were on the phone and they said, “Myranda, we were crying.” It was very emotional. I will never ever forget the number of people who came out to support and just show that they actually truly care for me and love me. My friends from the theater came out with the cutest shirts saying, “I love Myranda.”
Photo taken of Black EMU Homecoming King and Queen Myranda Wiggins and Jordan Brooks
Q: How did you celebrate winning?
A: The same night even before knowing I won, my friends said we were going to go out. I said OK. So, we were supposed to go to Chili’s, but time ran over and then we went to B-Dubs that night to celebrate. Then I had other events Friday. Then obviously the tailgate, but that day was probably one of my favorite days in my entire life honestly. I was not expecting it. It was just a very surreal moment that I couldn’t believe happened and I’m very, very grateful for everything and every person that poured into me.
Q: If you could, would you redo the entire experience over?
A: Oh yeah, I would, I would for sure. I don’t know if there is anything I would change. I think I would definitely do it again, maybe do some more promo. Like we were constantly promoting and posting stuff, but I would probably do some more posting.
Q: So what’s next for Miss Homecoming Queen?
A: I’m going to take a break. I’ve been very, very, very busy but I’m currently in a show at EMU that opens up in December. It’s one of the shows that we tour. So, that’s one of my favorite things about EMU. I have never been to a college that also tours. We tour high schools. We start touring in November so I’m excited for that. So, I’m currently trying to take a break from homecoming. I’m still in disbelief and my mom was asking “Where are you going to put the crown?” I have no idea, I want to put my crown somewhere special because it's a nice crown. I’m really happy I got it.
Wiggins is part of the cast of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," on stage at Eastern Michigan University at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7, and for 2 p.m. matinee performances Dec. 7 and 8. The cast will perform the show at area high schools starting in November.
