By Texas Southern University Crowns New Mister and Miss TSU
Texas Southern University announces the newly crowned Mister and Miss Texas Southern University, Zyias Richards and Carmon Alexis Grimes, two exceptional student leaders who exemplify scholarship, service, and Tiger pride. Richards and Grimes will serve as ambassadors for the University during its Centennial.
Four young women and three young men competed in the annual Mister and Miss Texas Southern University Scholarship Pageant. They were judged on talent, interview, question and answer, and formal wear.
Zyias Richards, a Houston native and Lamar High School graduate was named the 25th Mister Texas Southern University. Richards is a junior majoring in Radio, Television, and Film with a minor in Entertainment Recording Industry Management.
Richards has built a reputation for servant leadership and academic excellence. He is an award-winning member of the international champion TSU Debate Team, a President’s List scholar, announcer for the renowned Ocean of Soul marching band, and Freeman Scholar in the Thomas F. Freeman Honors College. He was also a Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute Scholar and SOCQ (School of Communication Quarterly) Magazine columnist.
As Mister Texas Southern University, his platform is committed to bridging the gap between student leadership and servant leadership, emphasizing advocacy rooted in community impact and selflessness.
“If someone doesn’t believe in you, believe in yourself, because once you believe in yourself, you give people something to believe in,” Richards said. “I look forward to this next year of representing our student body, advocating for them, and inspiring them to believe in themselves.”
Joining him is the 79th Miss Texas Southern University, Carmon Alexis Grimes, a junior Marketing major from St. Louis, Missouri. Grimes is deeply engaged on campus as a two-time member of Campus Pals, mentoring incoming freshmen, and an active participant in HER TSU, promoting women’s empowerment.
She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Psi Chapter, and serves as an Executive Board member and Marketing Chair of the Midwest Club. Her leadership extends to her role as a Residential Assistant and her work at the Recreation and Wellness Center, as well as her participation in the XceleadHer Fellowship, where she continues to cultivate spaces for women leaders across HBCUs.
“Oprah Winfrey once said ‘Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness,” Grimes said. “That message has inspired me to push through to be the best woman I can be. I hope my story can empower my fellow Texas Southern ladies to use those moments where they feel like they failed as inspiration to put in the work to be greater and soar higher than they ever imagined.”
Together, Richards and Grimes represent the highest ideals of Texas Southern University—academic excellence, leadership, and service. As campus ambassadors, they will champion initiatives that uplift the student body, foster unity, and continue the proud legacy of TSU.
Visit the university’s Flickr album for photos from the pageant.
