Queen, as defined, is one who is the ruler of an independent state. Put that in perspective of a high school queen and she can be seen as the ruler of her school with the influence to change it for the bad or good so why not inject some good. As Houston Style Magazine spotlights some of this year’s African American and Hispanic Houston ISD high school homecoming queens we go behind the crown to learn how they have used their platform to reign supreme as her royal highness.

Nerli Degante

Miss Austin

"Beauty is knowing your worth and being yourself. Being smart and not caring what other people think about you. Always being a good human being and always being humble and helping others.”

Degante is a graduating senior at Stephen F Austin High School. Her activities at school include being the soccer captain and participating on the softball team and with The Woods Project. She also participated in the school’s blood drive. She has received honors for perfect attendance and student of the month. In 2020, Degante plans to attend Houston Baptist University to major in education and become a teacher. Her favorite subject in school is science and reading. She enjoys science because she is able to explore another world. Through reading, she is able to express how she feels and learn how to properly speak and write. Her most memorable contribution as a queen was the opportunity she was given to be a good example to other students by honoring the school and connecting with her peers to show school spirit. She loves her school and shows school pride by representing the school through soccer and always keeping updated with school events, programs, and clubs.

Jewel Hernandez

Miss Chavez

“Beauty is not really in the looks, but personality.”

Hernandez is a graduating senior at Chavez High School. Her activities at school include varsity soccer, softball, and FFA. Hernandez plans to attend college to study animal science. Science is her favorite subject in school, which is good since her future career goal is to become a veterinarian. Her hobbies are running, working out, and showing cattle. She shows her school pride by encouraging underclassmen to be engaged with school activities.

Diamon Thomas Miss North Forest

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. All women are beautiful.”

Thomas is a graduating senior at North Forest High School. She is involved with numerous organizations including being an officer in the Health Occupations Student Organization, Majorette, and National Honor Society. The Senior Class Vice President has also received her white coat to commemorate her studies at the Barbara Jordan School for Careers. Her favorite subject is the principles of health science, which goes great with her future goal of becoming a pediatric nurse. After graduation, she plans to attend Prairie View A&M University to major in nursing. Her hobbies are dancing, reading, and helping in the community. Thomas promotes school spirit by participating in school activities as serving in leadership positions to give input and ideas to promote school spirit and pride in her school. Her most memorable moment as queen was running for school elections.

Jalynn Bell

Miss Sterling

“Beauty is not what’s on the outside, it’s within you. It is all about your character, how you treat people, and the way you present yourself. “

Bell is a graduating senior at Ross Shaw Sterling Aviation Early College High School. She is involved in several activities including cheer, ROSES, Gamma Phi Alpha Sisterhood, National Honor Society, and student council. She is also a basketball trainer. Some of her biggest honors are being inducted into the National Honor Society, being on the honor roll and winning the title of Lady Sterling. Her favorite subject is math. One day she hopes to own multiple businesses and give back to her community. Since she is a leading role at her school and very active in school, she uses her platform to push others to get involved, go to the games, and just participate in any school activities. After graduation, Bell plans to attend Grambling State University, Southern University and A&M College, or Prairie View A&M University to major in business administration and minor in health administration or accounting. Her hobbies are cheering, hanging out with friends, and going to the mall. Her most memorable contribution as queen is when she went represented her school at the Top Teens of America Ball. Bell got the chance to meet Sterling alumni and talked with them about their experiences when they were at school. She also met a little girl who admired her and wanted to be just like her. The experience touched her that she was a role model to the next generation and that people looked up to her.

Ashley Martinez

Miss Waltrip

“Beauty is the true illumination of your soul.”

Martinez is a graduating senior at Waltrip High School. Her favorite subject in school is science. She hopes to attend a 4-year college after graduating to gain knowledge to become a makeup artist. She loves to dance and likes to spend time with her friends and doing makeup. She loves her school and expresses that love to all students and makes sure her friends do too. Martinez's most memorable moment as queen was being able to act as a role model on her campus.

Nubia Sierra Arely

Miss Westbury

“Beauty consists of more than your appearance and outer looks. Beauty is who a person is. Personality, actions, uniqueness, all contribute to what beauty is. Most people think of looks when they hear the word beauty, but I believe it is so much more than what’s seen on the outside.”

Arely is a graduating senior at Westbury High School. The AP scholar’s favorite subject has always been English. She loves the way history, romances, comedies, and dramas can all be thought of, written, and eventually published for others to read and enjoy. After graduation, she hopes to attend the University of Houston Downtown to complete two years of basic education and then two years of nursing school to become a successful neonatal nurse. She then wants to advance her career to be an obstetrician. Her hobbies include going on long runs, hiking, volunteering, and baking for family and friends. Arely promotes school spirit by encouraging students to attend school activities, especially my senior classmates. She feels like it’s our last year and they should make the best out of it, what a better way than attending games and school activities. Her most memorable contribution as homecoming queen has been encouraging her classmates to keep pushing themselves and to not give up on the goals they very much want to accomplish. Even walking by in the halls and greeting students with a hello or “good morning” can make someone’s day better and she does her best to do that. She would like to thank her fellow senior class for believing, trusting, and allowing her to reign as the class of 2020’s homecoming queen. She wants to also thank her school principal, Ms. Monaghan, and Ms. Giles for giving her the opportunity to run.

Sabrina German

Miss Worthing

“Beauty is defined by the way you treat people.”

German is a graduating senior at Evan E. Worthing High School. Her favorite subject is history. The dual credit student is the lieutenant of the dance team, president of LOE and FFA, vice president of SGA, and a member of the National Honor Society, BPA, and district champion for DECA. She promotes school spirit by participating in several different clubs and all school activities. Upon graduation, she plans to attend the University of Houston or Rice University to major in business marketing. Her hobbies include dancing, shopping, and painting. Working in the community is one of the most memorable things she has done as queen. Serving Sunny Side, participating in the SGA’s Penny Drive and volunteering at the Houston Food Bank are some of her most cherished memories as queen.

Darian Moses

Miss Yates

“Beauty is having a gentle and kind heart.”

Moses is a graduating senior at Jack Yates High School. She is the 90th young lady to hold the title of Miss Yates. She enjoys cheerleading and being in the National Honor Society, The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Houston Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math Science Programs. The future anesthesiologist loves math. She will further her education at Southern University, Texas A&M University or Louisiana State University to study medical science. She was named a Citgo Distinguished Scholar and is the recipient of the 2019 Youth of the Year Upward Bound Scholarship. This summer she was one of ten highly qualified candidates selected for the Mickey Leland 2019 Kibbutzim Internship to Israel. This opportunity allowed her to live in Israel for one month, engage in community service activities, tour the Holy Land and meet new friends and people from all different backgrounds. Thomas's hobbies include crafting and spending time with family and friends. As a 4-year varsity cheerleader, she has been able to promote school spirit by always representing Jack Yates and the community in a positive manner. She takes pride in the traditions that her school has set in place and she makes all efforts to always "Do What's Right!" Her memorable moment as queen is her ongoing efforts of encouraging all students to push harder and to be their best.

Special thanks to the Houston ISD press office, especially Justin Marino.