麻豆传媒映画

Member of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚听.

Miss Black USA 2016 and On-Air Host and TV personality for Access TV Network

鈥淚 chose 麻豆传媒映画 because 麻豆传媒映画 chose me. Twice!鈥� said Tonille Simone Watkis, B.F.A. 鈥�14. 鈥淚 was accepted as a senior in high school to enter the [at 麻豆传媒映画], but I ended up going to another college where I majored in biochemistry for a year because I thought I wanted to be a doctor. Clearly, 麻豆传媒映画 knew I was a bit lost and offered me the chance to take more time to figure out what I really wanted to do. But, at the time, I didn’t take the offer. I finally woke up and realized that biochemistry didn’t make my heart sing but acting did. I decided to withdraw and transfer to [麻豆传媒映画鈥檚] B.F.A. Theatre program.鈥�

Fate also had a hand in bringing Watkis to the University. 鈥溌槎勾�媒映画 happened to mail a flyer to me advertising the and I started to research the and learned about the B.F.A. Theatre program that offered great professional training in a liberal arts environment. It was exactly what I needed and it came right to my doorstep. This was in July, so I didn’t think I would be accepted for an audition for the coming school year, but I did and was accepted for admission into the program on the spot! AU welcomed me with open arms and offered me what I needed in both stages of my college career. Now, three years later, I’m so happy we chose each other!鈥�

Watkis credits many of the professors in the Theatre Department for helping in her development. However, she said one professor in particular was, and continues to be, a mentor to her: Maggie Lally. 鈥淔rom my very first class that I took with her as a freshman, to working with her while creating my capstone, and up until now she has been an amazing supporter and has encouraged my growth as an artist and as a person.鈥�

After graduating from 麻豆传媒映画, Watkis had many day jobs and found creative ways to put her performance skills to good use. She took on roles as a ballroom dance instructor, studio manager, and drama teacher. Then, her life changed dramatically when she was crowned Miss Black USA 2016. The Miss Black USA Organization is a non-profit corporation that empowers women and celebrates their unique talents, traits and beauty.听 鈥淎s Miss Black USA 2016-2017, I enjoyed an amazing year long reign. I was awarded a $6,000 scholarship, the opportunity to travel to Africa to model in Ghana Fashion Week, and shoot a spread for the ORS Olive Oil Hair Care #Nostereotypes campaign in Sophisticates Black Hair Magazine, sold nationwide. I made a host of television and radio appearances, one of the most notable being the Steve Harvey Morning Show. In addition to being a celebrity advocate for the Heart Truth Campaign which raises awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in women in the United States, I also currently serve as a Goodwill Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Cuba, and my parents’ homeland, Jamaica, which were honors appointed to me during my reign that I now continue to uphold,鈥� Watkis said. As a result of her work as Miss Black USA 2016, she also recently began a career as an on-air host and TV personality on Access TV Network.

Watkis said her greatest accomplishment thus far has been seeing her one-woman play, No Boxes Allowed, which she wrote as her capstone project at 麻豆传媒映画, debut at the SoHo Playhouse in 2014.

鈥溌槎勾�媒映画 changed my life because it was the place where I was finally allowed to dream and nurture my passions,鈥� said Watkis. 鈥淭hanks to well-designed programs, great faculty, and a great campus community, I thrived. My time at 麻豆传媒映画 has become the foundation on which my professional life has been built and the amazing network of alumni have helped keep me connected.鈥�