Meet Mister and Miss Winston-Salem State University (2026-2027): Danari McIllwain and Briyana Tillman

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 Winston-Salem State University.

The 52nd Mister Winston-Salem State University Danari Keshawn McIllwain is a senior Mass Communications major with minors in Psychology and Political Science from Charlotte, North Carolina. The 87th Miss Winston-Salem State University Briyana Lynae’ Tillman is a senior Biology major with a Finance minor from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a soror of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., initiated in Spring 2026. Together, McIllwain (@2x.nari) and Tillman (@b.r.i.y.a.n.a) represent Winston-Salem State’s Ram Nation with a shared commitment to service and representation.

Watch The Yard put out an open call to HBCU Kings and Queens across the country and we were able to interview McIllwain and Tillman 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.

Danari Keshawn McIllwain: “What motivated me to run for King was my genuine love for my school and my desire to make a difference beyond just having a title. I wanted to use the position to represent students, build connections, and remind people that leadership is about serving others. My campaign was centered around ‘Love & Royalty.’ To me, love means showing up for people, creating community, and making sure people feel seen and valued. Royalty represents carrying yourself with confidence, purpose, and responsibility. I wanted my campaign to show that being King is not about being above anyone; it is about being willing to serve everyone. Once I was crowned, I wanted my reign to focus on service, student engagement, mental health, unity, and creating meaningful experiences on campus. More than anything, I wanted my reign to leave an impact. I wanted students to feel heard, encouraged, and reminded that they have a place and a purpose at WSSU.”

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?

Danari Keshawn McIllwain: “If I can be very transparent, the ‘ramily’ atmosphere is unmatched. Having a place that you can call home and truly feel like home is amazing. The sense of belonging makes you feel special. I love to compare my university to a mirror; I feel as if I am a reflection of the excellence that my university shows and fosters. To those who do not attend my university but visit, I want them to understand that we are all one here. The same love, energy, passion, and drive that I carry with me, so does the student body, and that is what makes us so special!”

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.

Briyana Lynae’ Tillman: “When I came to WSSU, I knew I wanted to become a physician, but I didn’t yet understand how else I could serve. Through athletics, student leadership, scholarship, and organizations like Tri Beta and the Honors program, I was constantly challenged to step outside of one definition of myself. One moment that truly changed me was realizing I could walk into completely different spaces and still be the same Briyana. I could be a runner in the morning, a student leader in the afternoon, an athlete pushing myself physically, and a Biology pre-med scholar preparing for a career in medicine, and none of those identities had to compete with one another. WSSU taught me that my purpose isn’t limited to one avenue of service. It’s about what I choose to do with every avenue I’m given. That’s where my platform, ‘You Can Be Anything: The Royal Guide to Service Through Any Avenue,’ comes from. It was modeled after the slogan of an Iconic childhood toy that we all know and love, Barbie. WSSU didn’t just prepare me for a career. It taught me to become a woman who leads wherever she is needed, serves wherever she can, and refuses to put a limit on what she can 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?

Briyana Lynae’ Tillman: “At a university like Winston-Salem State, the crown is more than a symbol of beauty or recognition. It represents scholarship, leadership, service, culture, and the responsibility to represent the people who helped build the institution we call home. I think about the girl from Fayetteville who arrived at WSSU knowing she wanted to become a physician. Along the way, this university allowed her to become so much more: an athlete, a student leader, a scholar, and a woman who understands that success means very little if you don’t use it to serve others. That is what I want my reign to represent. That at an HBCU, you don’t have to fit into one box to be excellent. I want students to see themselves in me and understand that they can be scholars, athletes, leaders, creators, scientists, physicians, entrepreneurs, or whatever their purpose calls them to be. I have the honor of wearing this crown; I want my legacy to be bigger than the title. I want students to leave my reign believing more deeply in what they are capable of and understanding that there is always an avenue through which they can serve. Because the crown should not simply tell people who Miss WSSU is. It should remind the entire campus who WSSU students can become.”

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Danari Keshawn McIllwain and Briyana Lynae’ Tillman for the way they are already leading with heart at Winston-Salem State University. Here’s to a reign built on service, purpose, and pride in the Ram. Congratulations, Mister and Miss Winston-Salem State University. We wish you a successful and impactful reign.

(Photo Credit: @garrettgarms, @thatnerd313)