The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium (Southern Black Girls), in conjunction with Roc Nation and Megan Thee Stallion’s Pete & Thomas Foundation, made it possible for and 18-year-old high school student to dance in Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show!
It all started in August 2022 when Jemiah Swinney, a dancer and high school senior who currently attends the New Manchester High School in Douglasville, GA, made an on-camera declaration of her “Biggest Dream” during the kick-off of the Southern Black Girls’ inaugural Joy is Our Journey Dream Bus Tour in Atlanta. Jemiah was performing as part of the Joy is Our Journey dance troupe and had no clue that her declaration would set into motion an experience that would change her life forever!
Once Southern Black Girls saw the footage of Jemiah’s dream, they immediately reached out to Roc Nation and Megan’s Pete and Thomas Foundation, who at the time was serving as the lead community partner for the Joy is Our Journey Dream Bus Tour. Together, they got to work to make Jemiah’s dream come true.
In January 2023, Jemiah received a surprise phone call from Megan Thee Stallion congratulating her with the exciting news that she would be dancing in the NFL Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show with Rihanna!