Meet Miss Bennett College (2026-2027): Jazmin E. Rawls

HBCU Kings and Queens carry more than a title. They carry the culture, the history, and the pride of their entire campus every time they step onto the yard. That is why we at Watch The Yard are launching a new series dedicated to introducing you to the leaders wearing the crown this year, continuing with Bennett College.

Miss Bennett College Jazmin E. Rawls is a senior Interdisciplinary Studies major from Durham, North Carolina. As a Bennett Belle, Rawls (@Jazmin.Mackenzie) has represented her institution both on campus and on national platforms throughout her time at the college.

Watch The Yard put out an open call to HBCU Kings and Queens across the country and we were able to interview Rawls about her reign. Read our interview with her:

How has your school molded you into the person you are today? Take us to a specific moment, person, or experience on your campus that changed you.

Jazmin E. Rawls: “Bennett College has fundamentally refined my purpose and taught me how to navigate a world built by and for men without ever shrinking myself. As Belles, we are cultivated in an environment that treats our intellect, power, and leadership as the default, giving us the blueprint to walk into any room and make the room fit us rather than altering who we are. Being a Bennett Belle means standing on the shoulders of women who never accepted “no” as a final answer, and that legacy lives within me every single day. A defining moment for me was delivering the introductory address for Vice President Kamala Harris at a presidential rally right here in Greensboro. Standing on that stage, projecting my voice on a national platform, and representing the strength of my institution showed me the profound power of space making and authentic advocacy. Bennett transformed me from someone who simply participates into a go getter who actively constructs platforms for others. This institution gave me the grit, the voice, and the vision to step outside our gates knowing that wherever I go, I don’t just belong in the room but now I have the authority to redefine it.”

What does it mean to you to hold this title at an HBCU specifically, and what do you hope students take away from your reign long after you graduate?

Jazmin E. Rawls: “Holding the title of Miss Bennett College at an HBCU is both a sacred honor and a deep responsibility. At a Black college, the crown is far more than a ceremonial symbol, it is a beacon of resilience, cultural heritage, and servant leadership. The summer leading into my freshwoman year, I sat down and mapped out a to do list for every single year of my undergraduate journey, and written right under Senior Year was “Miss Bennett College.” Over the years, as I crossed goals off, added new aspirations, and tweaked my plans, my eyes always returned to that line. Achieving this goal represents every Belle who walked this campus before me and paved the way for Black women to lead with unyielding strength in spaces that were never originally designed for us. Throughout my reign, I pray to leave a legacy defined by relentless passion, radical advocacy, and genuine sisterhood. Long after I graduate, I hope students remember that standard doors are never the limit and if a space isn’t built for you, you build your own entrance and make the room fit you. I hope my reign inspires every Belle and young black girl to remain an unapologetic go getter, to honor our history, and to know that no obstacle can ever diminish their light.”

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Jazmin E. Rawls for the way she is already leading with purpose at Bennett College. Here’s to a reign built on advocacy, sisterhood, and pride in the Belle. Congratulations, Miss Bennett College. We wish you a successful and impactful reign.

(Photo Credit: @rayonnasphotography)