The Dancin’ Divas of Alabama A&M University danced their way to a $25,000 scholarship from The Tampax and Always Radiant Collection and custom uniforms designed by Brea Stinson.
Though substantial, the monetary reward wasn’t the sole benefit of this campaign that was literally bursting at the seams with black girl magic. Brea Stinson is an HBCU alumna herself, graduating from Clark Atlanta University. The celebrity fashion designer whose garments and styling has landed clients like Beyonce, Willow Smith, Nas, Kelly Rowland, and Usher was thrilled to unite to empower young ladies at a time when building confidence is essential – college years.
“During that time of the month, it can be challenging to feel like your best self, which is why I’m so excited to partner with the Tampax and Always Radiant Collection to inspire HBCU dancers to feel and look confident during their periods no matter what they wear”
From November 2 – 15, The Tampax and Always Radiant Collection and HBCU Dance Corporation, Inc. teamed up to host the #RadiantDanceOff. #RadiantDanceOff in a national, online dance competition sponsored by HBCU Dance. The competition exclusively for majorette teams at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) was created to give majorettes the chance to show off their moves and demonstrate how confidence is the key to feeling radiant any day of the month.
The winning AAMU Dancin Divas are known for their acrobatic moves and out of site choreographer. The fairly young team was first featured in 1998 and performs alongside the university band, the Marching Maroon and White.
Upon winning, the divas shared their excitement: “Yesterday marked a major milestone in our 19 year history….. if given only 1 word to describe our current mood, we’d sum up those emotions by simply saying “surreal”. Our “story” is one of perseverance; and, as we reflect back on the very beginning and conception of our program, it’s hard not to get emotional about how much it has evolved. The progress over the years has been phenomenal and we are truly grateful and humbled to have an opportunity to represent our university, our brand, the SWAC, and HBCU dancers around the globe! Being selected as the Grand Prize Winners of the Radiant Dance Off Contest is a HUGE honor and we don’t take that designation lightly . Thank you to HBCU Dance Corp and P&G for affording us this opportunity and providing a platform for all HBCU Dance Programs to be recognized. For everyone who voted, shared, prayed and supported in ANY capacity, we say THANK YOU!! The outpouring of support that we received from the local and virtual community, Marching Maroon and White Band and Alumni, Alabama A&M Alumni, Dancin’ Diva Alumni, Dancin’ Diva parents, friends, family and fans during the voting period was remarkable. We couldn’t have made it from 1 of 22 to 1 of 5 to #1 without your persistence and belief in us. 2018 marks our 20th year in existence and we could not have imagined a better way to kick off the new season …we look forward to and embrace what lies ahead. Thank You, Thank You, THANK YOU!!”
Read the official press announcement:
CINCINNATI – December 12, 2017 – The Radiant Collection from Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) leading feminine protection brands Tampax® and Always®, in partnership with HBCU Dance Corporation, Inc. named the Alabama A&M Dancin’ Divas the winner of the inaugural #RadiantDanceOff contest.
The #RadiantDanceOff, a national online dance competition designed exclusively for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), was conceptualized after learning that African-American women compromise their style and avoid activities like dancing while on their periods1. The contest proves to women everywhere that they can confidently wear and do whatever they want any day of the month while showcasing the bold moves and fierce costumes worn by HBCU majorettes.
“From submissions to voting, we couldn’t believe the level of participation we saw from the teams, students, alumni and fans,” says Keelia Brown founder of HBCU Dance Corporation, Inc. “Not only will the prize awarded by The Tampax and Always Radiant Collection make a valuable impact on the winning school, the #RadiantDanceOff competition really highlights the confidence and talent of the amazing women who make up the teams.”
Alabama A&M’s Dancin’ Divas beat out 21 teams across the country for $25,000 in scholarships and custom uniforms designed by Clark Atlanta University alumna and sought-after celebrity costume and fashion designer, Brea Stinson. The team will rock their new costumes in the 2018 school year.
“We are so thrilled to have won the first #RadiantDanceOff contest! Our performance uniforms typically don’t afford us a lot of options when it comes to selecting the appropriate feminine products and as you can imagine, it could be a nightmare without the right protection. The Radiant Collection eliminated the need for worry so now our Divas, affectionately known as the ‘hardest working ladies in the SWAC,’ can focus on what they do best— entertaining our audiences!” said Chrishana Granger, Coordinator of the Dancin’ Divas.
Over the course of two weeks, HBCU majorette teams battled it out for the top five spots in the #RadiantDanceOff competition. To enter, eligible teams submitted a short essay highlighting why their team runs the yard along with a two-minute video that was voted on by fans, alumni and students. A panel then judged the top five dance teams with the highest number of votes on:
- Difficulty of dance steps, cohesiveness and technical proficiency
- Originality of dance performance
- Creative execution of wardrobe selection
- Ability to convey character and expression in the dance
- Essay Submission
“We couldn’t be more excited to grant the Alabama A&M Dancin’ Divas with a $25,000 scholarship and brand new uniforms! All of the dance teams are incredibly talented so it was tough to pick one winner,” says Amanda Hill, Brand Director, North America Feminine Care at Procter & Gamble. “The Tampax and Always Radiant Collection is all about giving women the freedom to be the fiercest version of themselves any day of the month. These women radiate confidence every day and now they are going to shine even brighter on the field.”
Check out the ladies in action:
Official Contest Rules
For full details, see the Official Rules at http://radiantdanceoff.com/rules.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open exclusively to 2017 official female marching band dance teams of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as nominated for participation by their current team director, sponsor, advisor or coach. Submission Period ends on Monday, October 23, 2017 at 11:59:59 am ET. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Tampax is not the Sponsor or Administrator of this Contest. Sponsor: HBCU Dance Corporation, Inc.
Key Survey Findings
- 4 in 5 African American women say they avoid wearing certain types of clothes during their period for fear of leaks.
- Nearly half of African American women say they bring a jacket or sweater to wrap around their waist during their period when they’re going out to meet friends or on a date.
- A quarter of African American women say they avoid dancing while on their period.
- Half of African American women say they use mostly pads for their period protection.
About The Radiant Collection
With The Radiant Collection from Tampax® and Always®, women can mix and match protection for every occasion without sacrificing their personal style.
- Tampax Radiant tampons feature a CleanSeal™ re-sealable wrapper for quick and easy, discreet disposal and a LeakGuard™ braid to help stop leaks before they happen.
- Always Radiant pads feature a light, clean scent and absorb 10x their weight for protection you’ll forget is even there.
- Always Radiant Daily Liners have a CleanGuard™ quilted core to absorb wetness and odors.
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
The Tampax and Always Radiant Collection HBCU campaign survey was conducted by MSLGROUP, and surveyed a total of 502 African American women, aged 18-35, with some college education, 2 year college degree, 4 year college degree, graduate degree, or a post-graduate degree. The survey was implemented between the dates of September 11, 2017 and September 15, 2017.
ABOUT HBCU DANCE CORPORATION, INC.
Founded in 2010, HBCU Dance Corporation, Inc. uses dance as a way to inspire students to attend (or stay in) college, preferably at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU). Through its college centric dance camps, annual scholarships, mentoring programs, healthy food initiatives and funding assistance services, HBCU Dance Corporation plays an important role in helping female students, ages 12-22, recognize their beauty, strengths and full potential, while helping them identify and achieve their goals in college and beyond. To learn more about HBCU Dance Corporation, Inc., visit www.HBCUDance.com.
ABOUT PROCTER & GAMBLE
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.
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1 The Tampax and Always Radiant Collection HBCU campaign survey, 2017
