Meet Mister and Miss Talladega College (2026-2027): Don Jones Jr and Yasmine Mcgee

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 Talladega College.

The 18th Mister Talladega College Don Jones Jr is a senior Biology major with a minor in Chemistry from San Salvador, The Bahamas. The 91st Miss Talladega College Yasmine Mcgee is a senior Business Administration major concentrating in Management from New Orleans, Louisiana, and a soror of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., initiated in Spring 2026. Together, Jones (@donjones_) and Mcgee (@yyasyy._) represent Talladega College with a shared commitment to legacy and service.

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

What motivated you to run for King of your school? Tell us what you campaigned on and what you set out to accomplish once you were crowned.

Don Jones Jr: “What motivated me to run for King was knowing that I had already experienced Talladega College from different perspectives, but I wanted to do more than hold a title, I wanted to leave a legacy. Coming from a small island San Salvador in The Bahamas, and attending college away from home taught me that leadership starts with being willing to step outside of what is familiar. I had to adapt to a new environment, build relationships, and find my place on a campus that was thousands of miles away from home. Those experiences shaped the kind of leader I wanted to become. After serving as Mr. Sophomore and Mr. Junior, I realized that leadership wasn’t just about being seen, it was about being present and creating opportunities for others. My campaign was centered around The Ultimate ACT: Continuing the LEGACY through Achievement, Challenge, and Action. I wanted to encourage students to achieve their goals, challenge themselves beyond what they thought was possible, and take action instead of waiting for change to happen. As the 18th Mr. Talladega College, I wanted my background as a Bahamian and international student to remind others that where you come from does not determine where you can go. I wanted to use my position to connect people, open doors, and create opportunities for my peers to grow, lead, and succeed. Ultimately, I want my legacy to be remembered as a King who helped create opportunities for his peers and used his position to open doors for others. I don’t want people to remember me simply because I wore the crown, I want them to remember the impact that came with it.”

What do you love most about your school, and what would you want someone who has never set foot on your campus to understand about what makes it special?

Don Jones Jr: “What I love most about Talladega College is that its history is what drew me here in the first place. Coming from San Salvador, The Bahamas, I knew I wanted to attend an HBCU, but Talladega stood out to me because of the legacy attached to its name. Knowing that I would be walking on the grounds of the first HBCU in Alabama, surrounded by a history that has impacted generations of Black students, made me want to be a part of it. When I first came to Talladega, I didn’t know how much this place would become a part of me. I came from an island thousands of miles away, and somehow Talladega became home. Over the years, I’ve gone from being a student trying to find my place to serving as Mr. Sophomore, Mr. Junior, and now the 18th Mr. Talladega College. That journey is something I don’t take for granted. What makes Talladega special are the moments you have to experience for yourself, the sound of the Great Tornado Band bringing campus to life, Homecoming, the Royal Court, standing in the Billy C. Hawkins Student Center with your classmates, and simply seeing students from different backgrounds come together and represent something bigger than themselves. If someone has never stepped foot on our campus, I would want them to understand that Talladega is more than its history. It is a place where you become part of the history. I came here because I was inspired by the legacy of those who came before me, and now I have the opportunity to add my own chapter to that legacy.”

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.

Yasmine Mcgee: “Talladega College has shaped me in ways that I don’t think I fully understood until I looked back and realized just how much I had grown. One moment that stands out to me was during my earlier years at Talladega, when I found myself overwhelmed by everything I was trying to become. I was learning how to navigate college, discovering my voice, building relationships, and trying to figure out what my purpose looked like. I remember having a moment where I felt like I had to have everything together, but the truth was, I was still growing. What changed me was realizing that I didn’t have to have everything figured out to become the woman I was meant to be. Talladega gave me people who saw potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. Through professors, friends, mentors, and the people I encountered on this campus, I learned that sometimes the greatest impact someone can have on you is simply reminding you of who you are when you temporarily forget. This institution taught me to keep going. It taught me that growth can be uncomfortable, that leadership requires vulnerability, and that strength does not always look like having all the answers. Sometimes strength is simply getting back up, trying again, and choosing to believe in yourself. I came to Talladega as a young woman trying to find her place. I am leaving as a woman who knows her worth, understands her purpose, and recognizes the responsibility that comes with being able to serve others. Talladega College did not just educate me, it gave me a sense of belonging. It gave me experiences that challenged me, people who believed in me, and memories that I will carry long after I leave this campus. And that is why, when I think about what Talladega has molded me into, I don’t just see a student, or even the 91st Miss Talladega College. I see a woman who has learned that becoming who you are meant to be is not about having a perfect journey, it is about having the courage to keep growing through it. That woman is who Talladega helped me become.”

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?

Yasmine Mcgee: “To hold the title of Miss Talladega College means to carry a legacy that is much bigger than myself. At an HBCU, a crown is not simply a symbol of beauty or recognition. It represents the generations of Black excellence that came before us and the responsibility we have to continue building something for those who come after us. When I wear this crown, I am reminded that I am standing on the shoulders of people who fought, sacrificed, and persevered so that I could have the opportunity to stand here today. Being the 91st Miss Talladega College means that I am not just representing myself. I am representing my institution, my classmates, the women who held this title before me, and the young women who will one day stand where I am standing. Throughout my reign, I want students to understand that they do not have to wait until they have a title, a degree, or a certain level of success to make an impact. Your voice matters now. Your ideas matter now. Your presence matters now. When I graduate, I hope students remember me as a queen who made them feel seen, encouraged them to believe in themselves, and used her platform to serve rather than simply be celebrated. The legacy I want to leave behind is one of purpose. I don’t want people to remember the 91st Miss Talladega College simply because of the crown she wore. I want them to remember the woman who wore it, and what she did with it. If, years from now, a student looks back at my reign and says, ‘She made me believe that I could do something meaningful too,’ then I will know I did my job. Because to me, that is what an HBCU queen should be: not just a representation of where her institution has been, but a reflection of where it is going.”

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Don Jones Jr and Yasmine Mcgee for the way they are already leading with heart at Talladega College. Here’s to a reign built on legacy, purpose, and pride in the Tornado. Congratulations, Mister and Miss Talladega College. We wish you a successful and impactful reign.

(Photo Credit: Jauron Pruitt @jauronxpruitt, Elijah Franklin @Ejfrank.media, Don Jones @donjones_)