Clarissa Lester- Kenty was crowned Miss Black USA in 1990. During her reign, she was featured in Jet Magazine and received the key to the city of Memphis Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama. She traveled with such greats as Muhammad Ali and performed with the late Vincent Williams, former actor on the daytime soap opera "Guiding Light". She sang the national anthem for the Washington Bullets NBA Basketball game. Clarissa is a graduate of Miles College with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications, emphasis in Broadcast and Public Relations. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Development Institute. She is a licensed radio announcer through FCC federation.
Clarissa Lester-Kenty has extensive experience in post secondary education. With 15 years if expertise in career training and preparation for higher learning, Clarissa has transitioned children and adults from "Better to Best". She is a seasoned motivational speaker, life coach, trainer, social graces guru. Her areas of expertise include personal/business branding, social etiquette, soft skills, image consulting, manners, public speaking, building self esteem and more. She has over 23 years of experience working with children and teens . Clarissa assessed and assisted student's with identifying the best suited career paths. She was honored in 2009 4-H alumni ceremony where she mentored and trained children from ages 9-19 for 8 years. Here are just a few workshops she has conducted: United Way, 4-H, Women's Conferences, Youth conferences, HABD- Housing Authority for Birmingham District, Substance Abuse Awareness for Teens, Fine Dining Etiquette for High School Seniors, Central Alabama Women's Business Center.
She performed in the World's Fair and was the State winner for the 4-H Citizenship award. She competed in public speaking and debate competitions. She landed the lead role in the off broadway musical in "Joseph and the Amazing Techno Colored Dream Coat."
Etiquette plays a pivotal part of Clarissa's life. She completed Deans Charm School where she was personally trained by the CEO of the school. She received pageant training from Rita Allison a former statewide pageant official for the South Carolina Pageant Association. She is also a trained vocalist of over 25 years with a history of vocal competitions. She received her vocal training from Converse College of South Carolina. She has over 10 years of radio and broadcast experience. She was a reporter for a nationally syndicated gospel radio show "Myriad Gospel Count Down." She was a radio announcer for WAYE 1220 Gospel Radio, 1530 WASC Radio and she hosted television talk show entitled "Synergy" which aired in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Clarissa was the state spokesperson for the South Carolina State Parks along with the Mammography Campaign. She judged local pageants, spelling bees, and public speaking competitions. Clarissa has a passion to ignite passion, tenacity, determination in those who desire to provide more than what is expected.
