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United States Nia Imani Franklin has transitioned from Miss America 2019 to an accomplished composer, opera singer, and advocate for arts education.
Nia Imani Franklin became Miss America 2019, a national title involving a year of service, advocating for her social initiatives, and demonstrating leadership.
Franklin was featured in the Netflix docuseries "Colin in Black and White," produced and directed by Ava Duvernay, which highlighted her role as one of the Black beauty queens in 2019.
Franklin participated in a performance at Festival Napa Valley, showcasing her musical talents.
During her year of service as Miss America, Franklin went on a USO Tour, performing for communities.
As Miss America, Nia Imani Franklin became the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Franklin hosted the New York Philharmonic’s concert dedicated to first responders during her year of service as Miss America.
Franklin founded "Compose Her," an initiative designed to engage and promote more women and women of color composers in the music industry, providing support and mentorship.
Franklin worked with the Dallas Symphony, performing her operatic pieces and later being commissioned to write a five-minute orchestra piece titled "Chrysalis Extended" for them.
Her orchestral piece, "Chrysalis Extended," featured on her EP named "Extended," was played by The Re-Collective Orchestra, an orchestra composed of musicians of color.
Creations by Niki Lassiter was an official red carpet partner for Miss America, ensuring Nia Franklin was ready for events.
Nia Imani Franklin, born July 27, 1993, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, developed an early love for music which eventually led her to a distinguished career in classical music. She pursued her education at East Carolina University, earning a degree in music composition in 2015. Her academic journey continued at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she completed her master of music degree in music composition in 2017. During her time at UNCSA, Franklin composed a chamber opera titled “King Solomon,” which premiered in 2015. After graduate school, she moved to New York City as a 2017 William R. Kenan Jr. fellow with the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ education division.
Franklin’s career progression also includes a successful path in pageantry. After competing in the Miss North Carolina organization in 2016 and 2017, she relocated to New York. In June 2018, she won the title of Miss New York 2018, competing as Miss Five Boroughs. This achievement led to her representing New York in the Miss America 2019 competition, which she won on September 9, 2018. As Miss America, Franklin dedicated her year of service to advocating for the arts, becoming the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, undertaking a United Service Organizations (USO) Tour, and hosting the New York Philharmonic’s concert for first responders.
Following her reign as Miss America, Franklin has continued to expand her musical contributions. She founded “Compose Her,” an initiative focused on engaging and promoting women composers, particularly women of color. Her work includes collaborations with organizations such as the Dallas Symphony, for whom she composed and performed, and a feature in the Netflix docuseries “Colin In Black and White.” Franklin released an EP titled “Extended,” featuring her orchestral piece “Chrysalis Extended,” which was performed by The Re-Collective Orchestra, an ensemble of color. She also performed her original song “Hello, Miss America” at the Miss America 2021 centennial competition.
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