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The three most prestigious crowns in American beauty pageantry have all gone to black women for the first time in history.

Cheslie Kryst, 28, scooped the Miss USA title on May 2 and Kaliegh Garris, 18, won Miss Teen USA on April 28.

They joined 25-year-old Nia Franklin, who was crowned Miss America 2019 back in September at a glittering ceremony in New Jersey.

“It is important to little brown and black girls to see three strong figures, three strong women, African-American women that are doing so much great work,” Ms Franklin, a composer and social activist, told the New York Times on Saturday.

“People will argue that race doesn’t matter. But race does matter in America, because of the history, because of slavery.”

The pageant wins have been hailed as a symbol of progress, in a country whose past is scarred by gender stereotypes and racism.

“Miss USA is a black woman w/ natural hair, a lawyer, & an incredibly well-spoken, opinionated, intelligent, fit, hard-working, & beautiful woman. Don’t tell me pageants aren’t relevant,” tweeted one supporter in recognition of Ms Kryst, a civil litigation attorney who represents prison inmates for free.

“This woman is the epitome of diversity & female empowerment. I am so proud,” added the Twitter fan.

Eighteen-year-old student Kaliegh Garris has also been praised for keeping her hair “natural”. She told CBS’s This Morning programme: “Growing up in pageantry, I would straighten my hair.I thought I had to do that physically, but as I grew up, I realised I can do that while being myself and still be powerful.

“Over time I just embraced who I was.”

Black women have long been underrepresented in all three national pageants.

It was not until 1970 that Cheryl Browne, as Miss Iowa, became the first black contestant for Miss America following decades of “white women only” contests.

It would take another 14 years for the first black woman to be crowned – achieved by Vanessa Williams in 1984.

Miss USA and Miss Teen USA then followed suit, with Carole Gist and Janel Bishop awarded the titles respectively in 1990 and 1991. However, this is the first time all three crowns have been worn by black women simultaneously.

Ms Kryst has celebrated the achievements of Ms Garris and Ms Franklin, as well as her own, but has also described them as a “reminder of how far we have to go”.

“There are no more black female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies,” she said in reference to the largest US corporations and the departure of black business woman Ursula Burns.

“So this landmark should really be celebrated, but it’s also a reminder that we still have a lot to do.”