Harmony Edosomwan

Harmony Edosomwan is a prominent Nigerian-American entrepreneur, community organizer, chef, and the reigning Miss Black USA 2026. A Bronx native who moved to Vermont a decade ago to attend the University of Vermont (UVM), she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and American Sign Language in 2021. Edosomwan has built a massive presence across New England as a multi-talented civic and business leader, seamlessly weaving her literary background into her grassroots advocacy and wellness initiatives.

Literary Work and Authorship

Edosomwan’s identity as an author and poet is deeply intertwined with her activism. She uses the written word to challenge cultural taboos around mental health and to claim space for marginalized voices:

* "Sad Black Girl": Published in 2019, this raw and vulnerable interactive book is Edosomwan’s most prominent literary work. It combines her original poetry with music recommendations, tips, coping exercises, and artwork contributed by friends and strangers. The book functions as a safe space for readers navigating depression and anxiety.

* Reclaiming Narrative Control: The title "Sad Black Girl" was a deliberate choice to subvert the modern cultural expectation that Black women must always be "strong." Edosomwan designed the book as an outlet for her own struggles with depression while carving out a rare, culturally specific literary space where Black women and femmes are allowed to openly express grief, sadness, and vulnerability.

* Poetry & Public Exhibits: Her creative writing extends into local community infrastructure. She is a collaborating artist with the Clemmons Family Farm and was one of five local poets selected to have her work permanently laser-carved onto wooden panels for Burlington’s North Avenue Poetry Walk, where visitors can read her poems and scan QR codes to hear her recite them.

Pageantry and National Advocacy

Miss Black USA 2026: Originally crowned Miss Black Vermont, she won the national Miss Black USA crown on August 9, 2026, in Washington, D.C., alongside the People's Choice and Heart of Service awards.

Harmony's Kitchen was launched in 2020 while she was still an undergraduate at UVM, this Winooski-based Afro-fusion soul food catering company and supper club blends Southern, Nigerian, and Puerto Rican flavors.

She utilizes her culinary platform to host statewide "Soul Food Tours" to fight food insecurity, celebrate Black culinary traditions, and build cross-cultural community bridges.

During her college years, she emerged as a primary student leader with NoNames for Justice to fight for institutional equity, a mission she continues today through food justice and her community wellness project, Soulfully Fit.

As part of her national pageant prize package, Edosomwan won a full scholarship for graduate or legal studies, which she plans to use to become an attorney and further expand her systemic advocacy work.