TEREZ D’BABETTA STEWART

MISS BLACK ILLINOIS USA 2005

Terez D’babetta Stewart, Miss Black Illinois USA 2005, is a 25-year-old native of Chicago, Illinois. She comes from a loving and supportive family that has taught her the importance of being a passionate, hardworking, and yet humble African-American young woman. They’ve taught her to love the world, and to give back in any way that she can.

In her high-school years, she received numerous honors including being named to Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students, the Thespians National Honor Society, and an Outstanding Leadership Award. Terez has a great passion for music and has been singing since the age of five.  She has an accomplished music career, having received silver and gold medals for vocal performance in the annual NAACP ACT-SO Competition, singing with the Trinity High School Chamber Choir and Gospel Choir, performing in numerous school musicals, and singing soprano and alto with the Christ Tabernacle M.B. Church of Austin.

Terez is currently a communications major at DePaul University, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Beta Chapter.  She has continued to receive honors and accolades for her talents, and now she uses her talents within her community. She studied for two years at the Theater School at DePaul University with some of the most prominent acting instructors. In 2002, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated honored her with the Loann Honesty King Service Award.  Also that year, Terez was runner up for the Nadine C. Bonds Trailblazer Service Award - Central Region, and she received the Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Fund Scholarship. In 2003, Terez earned recognition by being named to Who’s Who Among American College & University Students.

During her year as Miss Black Illinois USA, Terez’s hope is to touch young girls through music.  Her platform is “Save Music Education One Song at a Time.”  She hopes to heighten awareness in the African-American community regarding the benefits of and need for music education, especially since music is a pillar of the African-American culture. She especially wants to reach young girls and empower them through their own creativity and gifts.

Terez brings many gifts to the Illinois crown, but with a great sense of humility. She believes that “The Lord cannot use a haughty being for His will, but He will use ordinary people to do extraordinary things.” Terez’s life ambition is to be a profound entertainer and touch the lives of many people with her gifts and her life’s work.