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17-Year-Old Miss Juneteenth Sanija Gay Wanted June 19 to Be a Federal Holiday
June 17, 2021
President Biden signed a bill establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery. For African Americans, the date has long had special meaning. There’s even a Miss Juneteenth beauty pageant. Saniya Gay, 17, is the first national Miss Juneteenth. When Saniya was crowned last fall, her number one goal was to see June 19 declared a national holiday, and now her wish has been granted.
