Miss HBCU Junior Teen 2024
Your FIRST Miss HBCU Junior Teen, Jean Lauryn Markayle Thomas, is a distinguished high school junior with a 4.0 GPA at Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Jean has exhibited an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and community engagement.
Jean Lauryn Markayle Thomas
With a passion for music, she was a part of the accomplished group Victorious for eight years, where they achieved numerous milestones, including national-level performances, singing the National Anthem for the Nashville Sounds minor league baseball team, and opening for renowned gospel artists such as Kierra Sheard. Additionally, Jean’s remarkable acting abilities have been recognized on a national stage through the Industry Network Talent competition, where she was honored as Actress of the Year in 2020. Complementing her artistic pursuits, she excels in athletics, currently holding school records in two separate relay events in track and field.
Demonstrating exceptional leadership skills, Jean serves as the first local youth coordinator under the age of eighteen at the House of God Church, where she plans and coordinates programs and activities for the youth members on a monthly basis. Notably, she instituted an innovative talk show dedicated to bridging generational gaps.
A true advocate for the artistic development and literary advancement of youth.
Inspired by the MAGI Project by Healing Hands International, Jean orchestrated a similar initiative in collaboration with her local church's youth department, assembling and distributing essential item boxes to individuals in need during an annual coat and clothing drive. Aligning with her pageant platform's focus on literacy, she organized a book drive, donating the collected literary materials to the Watkins Community Center in Nashville, Tennessee, promoting education and providing valuable resources to the local community.
Now, Jean is taking the initiative to develop a program titled "Report Card Ready," aimed at fostering academic improvement and positive youth development. This innovative project involves the creation of a website where students from elementary to middle school can schedule virtual tutoring sessions with qualified high school volunteers from the program. By providing this service, she aims to offer academic assistance to students who may lack access to affordable tutoring resources, while simultaneously connecting them with positive role models.
