Becoming the First Black Woman to Reign as Miss Texas

An event that took weeks of preparation finally took flight; a recital in a small auditorium at Collin County Community College where the voices of many students, including that of Shilah Precious Phillips filled the once empty room. The sight of people who filled the auditorium fades from rapid applause and chatter to motionless sound and darkness; the recital will never be forgotten. The lobby is now filled with people who attest, '...you're voice is so unbelievable,' '...wow that was great,' '...you are so beautiful, and your voice is as astounding,' Shilah humbly takes the comments as her friends and their family rush to her side. When heard, it's hard to believe such a large and seemingly too perfect sound comes from such a dainty and quiet person. Smiling from ear to ear, with an _expression that can brighten any ones day, Shilah breathlessly accepts all the accolades and offers some to off set the the feeling of still being on stage. Her family is as humble. That same day is also peppered with studying interview questions for the prestigious Miss Texas Pageant, viewing and trying on pageant gowns before purchase, having milled through swim suits and jetting to meetings to go over all that's been accomplished and future plans. One part of the day Shilah is a student, another part she's a performer and yet another she's Miss Frisco preparing for a week in July where a Texas sized competition will take place. The next day classes start where they left off, teachers are looking for papers to be turned in and tests are taken. In the mist of it all is Shilah. On top of that, other songs need practicing, chapters need to be read for discussion and work to pay for school and other major parts of her life need to be done. Respectively, the crown representing that of the reigning Miss Frisco is not the only one that sits on top of her natural curly-red hair. If Shilah is not helping out at her mothers nursery, she's teaching her own small group of toddlers. If she's not working with kids, she's warming up her voice for a gig later that night where she has to mimic the likes of Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys or even Wilson Picket belting out the lyrics to "Mustang Sally" before a half buzzed crowd.

The aforementioned all began on a day that many people deem a very unlucky day, Friday the 13th. Shilah was born in November on that day, but for her it represents everything but ill fated. Only three years later, Shilah would wow her first crowd. On that unsuspecting day in Fresco, California, her mother along with pews of other church family discovered Shilah's ability to belt out a simple gospel song when a young soloist fell sick and could not perform. It was that day that her mother decided to find a school where Shilah could further develop her singing talent. A few years later, even though she was not old enough to drive yet, her talent helped her win her first car. At eleven her mother enrolled her in the Denver School for the Performing Arts where she received all kinds of awards. Her experiences there gained her a spot in the prestigious Howard University to further study jazz with with people like Victor Goings from New York's "Lincoln Center Jazz and Orchestra."

In her first year at Howard, Shilah was given an opportunity of a lifetime; to work in California toward a pop music career. Shilah spent four years in a whorl wind life; meeting music producers, writers and many other people who promised to help launch her pop music career. Then she made a decision to go back to school and spend time with her mother who'd moved to Texas. In one final decision to move, she met a person who became one of her closest friends. In her excitement about Shilah's abilities, Veronica networked her way in to meet various people in the music industry that could help with Shilah's goals. After seeing Shilah frustrated with paying her school bills, she signed Shilah up for the local pageant. With weeks of pushing and practice Shilah won the Miss Frisco title. And so that began another chapter in Shilah's life.

Her ability to get on any stage and appear unruffled, confident and prepared as though she was meant to perform surpasses that of the average performer. In turn, even though she's very down to earth, Shilah is very well spoken, has great posture and wonderful presence. She attributes these abilities and her other successes to her background in music education. Therefore, she chooses to dedicate her platform as the reigning Miss Texas to promoting arts education. One thing about pageants; it's a chance for a young woman to be a role model for young girls. Looking at the things she's accomplished and what she represents, who wouldn't want to be Shilah Precious Phillips, born on Friday the 13th, only weeks before Halloween?