Howard University alum Taylor Davis (B.A. ’22) knows first-hand the meaning behind the phrase “delayed does not mean denied.” Davis competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant three times before she finally donned the first place crown with her win in May. It’s a moment she’s been envisioning since she was coronated as Miss Howard in 2020.  

“I was in so much shock when I won the Miss Texas USA title. I remember being on the stage, grabbing my face and being like, ‘I can’t believe it,’” Davis recalled from the day. “I saw my friends and family in the audience jumping up and down, so I start jumping up and down on the stage. It’s been a whirlwind ever since.” 

A Member of Howard’s Royal Court

Davis is currently preparing for the upcoming Miss USA 2025 competition in which she’s hoping to continue her winning streak. Her motivation to participate in pageants stems back to her time as a Howard student. In 2019, Davis served as the university’s Miss School of Business. The competition marked her first introduction into the pageantry world. 

“I didn’t grow up in [pageantry] or anything like that,” she said. “My mom went to Grambling State University, and she was a campus queen, Miss Grambling, in 1986. When I came to Howard, I did my own thing and then eventually found my way to the university’s Royal Court.” 

Following her time as Howard’s Miss School of Business 2019, Davis went on to compete and win the Miss Howard title in 2020. Two weeks after being elected as campus queen, the university shut down on-campus operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“When I won Miss Howard, I was also initiated as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Chapter,” Davis said. “I thought I would finally get to have my year and really do it big on campus. We then got an email saying that campus was closing. I remember being in my room, reading that email and crying. All of the things I was really looking forward to [it] felt like they were within reach and then were taken away. I think it was a sign from God trying to show me that all these things don't make me who I am. I’m a human being and an individual outside of all the things that I’ve accomplished.” 

Davis continued her Miss Howard reign through virtual programming and worked to uplift student morale amid the peak of the pandemic with fellow Royal Court members.  

“My reign became even more meaningful because it was about serving a purpose much larger than just being on campus and much larger than myself,” she said. “It was about finding a way to try to encourage people virtually and getting students excited about being Bison.” 

Enrolling at Howard wasn’t initially on her radar. However, Davis shared that it was the best decision she made after pivoting from her plans to attend another university. She continued her family’s history of attending a historically Black university with her admission into Howard. 

“I wanted to experience something different than what I grew up around — I grew up being one of and sometimes the only Black student in classrooms. I wanted to grow and establish my identity as a Black woman. Going to Howard shaped the person that I am today.” 

Davis mentioned that support from the university’s faculty and staff helped propel her to achieve her goals. Notably, the support she received from Walter Servance, executive director of campus life, left a lasting impression.  

“I’ll never forget how supportive Mr. Servance was, especially when we were dealing with navigating a virtual Royal Court reign,” she said. “He was always open to hearing me and demonstrated the power of compassionate leadership.”  

Servance, who is the advisor of Howard’s Royal Court, shared that “during Davis’s time as Miss Howard 2020, she exemplified grace, leadership, and a deep commitment to uplifting her peers and the Howard community during a pandemic She consistently carried herself with poise and purpose, using her platform to inspire and motivate those around her.” 

He continued, “Seeing her now crowned as Miss Texas USA 2025 is a proud moment and a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and authenticity. Davis’s success reflects not only her personal strength but also the values she embodied during her tenure at Howard.” 

From Pageants to the NFL 

Davis’s interests in pageantry swelled after hearing fellow HBCU alum and pageant queen Deshauna Barber deliver a keynote speech at the 2019 HBCU Kings and Queens Leadership Conference. Barber won the Miss USA title in 2016 and then went on to be among the top 10 candidates in the Miss Universe competition that same year.  

“I was really inspired by [Barber’s] story. Seeing her walk boldly in her faith, how confident she was in addition to how she wasn't afraid to come back year after year, and didn’t give up until she won, gave me the confidence to believe I could do the same,” Davis explained. “Without my experience at Howard and going to that leadership conference, I would’ve never got the crazy idea that I could one day be a Miss USA.” 

Davis went on to compete in the Miss Maryland USA 2021 pageant, placing as the second runner-up. After graduating from Howard with a degree in marketing in 2022, Davis returned to her home state of Texas where she competed in the Miss Texas USA 2023 competition (placing as third runner up) and again in 2024 (placing as a finalist). Her determination and fortitude paid off when she was crowned as Miss Dallas USA in 2024.  

In addition to competing in pageants, Davis works full time as a social media analyst for the NFL. When joining the NFL organization in 2022, Davis initially had a role in operations but always had her sights set on joining the organization’s social media department.  

“I showed the social media team that I was coachable and I'm always eager to learn,” said Davis. “They took a chance on me and here I am three seasons later. I've learned so much and it's an amazing space. I never pictured a career in sports until I did the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program as a student. The NFL has given me a lot of different experiences that have been valuable.” 

The Power of Belief 

Amid a busy work schedule and preparing for her biggest pageant competition to date, Davis finds joy in mentoring young girls. During her time as the Miss Dallas USA titleholder, she created the “Hail Mary” workshop program, an initiative aimed at motivating young girls to establish their own goal-setting plans.  

“The workshops are something that I love to do. It’s important that [young girls] have that positive example of someone who teaches them to goal set and someone who teaches them to be brave and ambitious,” she emphasized.  

Last month, Davis returned to her former school, Allen High School, for a visit with the dance team she previously a member of, the Tallenettes.  

“It was a full circle moment because I think about who I was in high school,” she said. “I saw myself reflected in those young ladies. I was still growing into my identity, trying to figure out what things were important to me and what type of person I wanted to be. Being in the dance studio where I once was almost 10 years ago, I was so in awe of my growth.” 

As Davis looks ahead to the Miss USA 2025 competition, she’s holding close to her reasons of why she’s competing.  

“My ‘why’ is about doing for others what Deshauna Barber did for me back in 2019,” she said. “It’s not about the sash, the crown, or walking away the winner. It’s about how you’re impacting other people to make positive changes in their lives — that’s what a title holder does. 

Regardless of how Miss USA 2025 turns out, I look forward to a year of being able to use this journey to inspire other people. I’m hoping that other people see how boldly I’m stepping in faith and how relentless I am in the pursuit of certain goals. The boldness to believe that you can do something is all you need to actually achieve it. If you believe in yourself, you’re halfway there.”