Janaya L. Berry

Growing up, Janaya Berry has always been told to follow her dreams. As a result, she set goals and standards to reach these dreams. At the age of 9, Berry began dancing with the Visionary Performing Arts Academy. Soon after, she displayed her passion for dance in the 1999 Miss Pre Teen Pittsburgh Pageant and won best talent and the title of first runner-up. Determined to win the title, Berry participated the following year winning best talent once again and Miss Pre Teen Pittsburgh Queen for the year 2000. Taking her passion for dance on a serious level, Berry went to Roger’s Creative and Performing Arts middle school where she majored in dance and was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and president of her class. After graduating from middle school, Berry attended Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts High school to perfect her skill in dance. Not forgetting her liking for pageants, she participated in the Miss Black Teenage Pageant in 2004, where she won an Entrepreneurship award for her babysitting business. That following year, Berry participated in the Glamour Modeling Pageants, winning best talent once again. In addition to that, Berry also won Omega Psi Phi’s Annual Talent Hunt Contest that same year. Not only does Berry have a passion for dance and enjoys participating in pageants, but she is also a track and field athlete as well. Running for Peabody High School, while still dancing at the Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts High School, Berry was a silver medalist in the 400 meter dash for the 2006 and 2007 City Championships. She also ran for Future Stars Track Club, where she advanced to the regional championship in 2006. After graduating from High School, Berry attended Bowie State University where she majored in Communications with a concentration in Broadcasting and Journalism. During the first semester she made the Deans List and finished her freshman year off strong. This fall she will be attending Susquehanna University while still majoring in Communications. Now she has accomplished her biggest goal yet, which was being selected to participate in the 2008 Miss Pennsylvania USA Pageant. With the help of your support, not only will she strive to accomplish another goal, but she will compete to win the title of Miss Pennsylvania in the classiest way that will leave her sponsors more than proud!