Twillie Cottingham embodies beauty inside and out. When she’s not busy competing in pageants or creating sports content on her personal YouTube page, Twillie is helping make the community a better place. If she’s not volunteering, she’s empowering young women to be their true authentic selves.
After spending years working and freelancing for companies including ESPN and BET, she created her own channel, “Takeoff Twillie” where she posts vlogs about her life and her sports takes. Now she is competing for the title of Ms. Black Alabama International Ambassador. She took some time to talk to us about her love of sports, the similarities of competing in sports and competing in pageants, and how you can support her on this journey.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Twillie Cottingham and I am from Montevallo, Alabama. I am a proud HBCU grad of Alabama A&M University. I have been working in sports television for over 10 years. I am an accomplished pianist, flutist, and violinist. I have been competing in pageantry for over 20 years. I am the reigning Ms. Black Alabama International Ambassador. I create travel and sports vlogs on Youtube, make sure you subscribe to “Takeoff Twillie”. Lastly, I thoroughly love sitting at home watching my Auburn Tigers play in anything and watching all of the Disney classics on Disney Plus.
How did your love of sports develop?
My love for sports began at the age of 4. I was watching the Summer Olympics and just fell in love with EVERYTHING. I loved the opening ceremonies, the competitions, the pomp and circumstances. It was amazing seeing these athletes compete and learn about them and their lives. I was especially in love with gymnastics. My mother who stands at 6’0 and my dad who’s 6’4, my life as a gymnast would never come due to me being 5’10. It literally broke my heart, because I would flip in my living room all day and would use my couch as the vault. You couldn’t tell me I wasn’t Dominique Dawes!
My mother is a former basketball player and she loved it, but wanted me to be exposed to everything and other sports out there…she then introduced me to softball. It was love at first bat. I began playing around 6 and never stopped. Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter…you name it, I was playing it. I am also the daughter of a retired NFL OLB. My dad, Brodrick “Ricky” Jones, a proud graduate of Tuskegee University and Hall of Fame athlete of TU, played for 8 years and then coached football once he retired. I think the combination of my two sports-loving parents really influenced my love for sports. I love the consistency of it, as well as, there always being a common goal of each day…to strive for greatness.
How did you get started with pageants?
In my hometown, pageants are the THING to participate in. I liked being competitive in cheerleading and softball, Pageantry was a different arena, but almost with the same type of concept except I get to be really cute, instead of a hot sweaty mess. I competed in our local pageant and thought that was fun and then in college when I saw you collected scholarship money…I was hooked.
I began to get further learn more about pageantry and that a lot of women who also worked in sports competed as well. You have Laura Rutledge (Miss Florida America 2012), Erin Andrews, and Ari Chambers (Miss North Carolina International). I was like if they can do it, so can I. Pageant and sports have a lot more in common than people think.
What similarities do you see in competing with pageants and working in sports?
Just like in sports, for instance, pageant queens undergo intense training— to prepare for a one-time annual event. It’s also about having the bravery to go after that big win. You feel the pressure, just like an athlete or someone telling a sports story. You want to get it right, walk away with a win, and influence the next generation to go after it as well. You also have to perform and perform well, that definitely goes hand in hand with pageantry and working in sports.
The only major difference in sports and pageantry is who you are competing with. In sports, you have teammates, coaches, and assistance to help you achieve that goal from beginning to end. In pageantry, it’s just you competing and depending on yourself. You can have a coach, but your coach isn’t out there competing for you. You have to believe in yourself that you are already a winner and show the judges that.
Also, your victory is dependent upon someone else’s opinion. In sports, whoever has the most points, wins. It’s not about if the ref liked your layup in the 2nd quarter and then you win. Even though the two worlds intertwine, the light at the end of the tunnel makes it all worth it. All I keep thinking about is that winning moment.
I have witnessed a lot of them in sports. I always refer to the Kick 6 from Auburn would be equivalent to my winning Ms. Black International Ambassador. The same year Auburn defeated Alabama in that beautiful fashion, it was a daunting year. They had a new coach, a new team, and every odd against them, that’s how I feel about competing this year.
I was furloughed due to Covid, our pageant was moved THREE TIMES, and I had moved to a new city. I have never held a pageant title for TWO YEARS, that was also a challenge, but again I constantly watch that Iron Bowl and it calms me down. I say just stay ready and prepared. You know what you can do, so just do it…Kick 6 and win!
My good friend and a former Auburn Tiger, told me an awesome quote the other day. I had asked him how he handles the pressure of a big game and how does he handle so many people depending on him for a win? Because the pressure has been getting real!
He stated, ‘when you are nervous it’s because you aren’t prepared. Twillie, you are prepared…go compete and show them what you have. Show them who you are.’
He said he would state that before every game and would perform well. At that moment, I knew my path of sports and pageantry combined was right for me and my background in sports will help me perform my very best on competition night.
Your latest pageant Miss Black International AM, what makes you want to hold this title?
I love being a part of and witnessing history. I would be the first crowned Ms. Black International Ambassador and that alone would mean the world to me. Again, my hometown is very small, and to make such a huge accomplishment would show so many young girls, especially young Black girls that anything is possible. You can literally be anything you want to be.
Through this International title, I can show others the strength of a woman who is driven to change the world. In addition, I have a strong brand that is unique and has not been done before as an international titleholder. I feel that “TomGirls”, (TomGirl-A girlie girl who also loves sports) like myself, need a role model and I am prepared to do just that.
Your platform is “Let’s Play”. What does that mean to you?
Let’s Play: Empowering youth to participate in youth sports; teaching fun aspects of physical activity, healthy eating, and safety within sports. I watch my nieces and nephews play their iPads for HOURS and I’m like…have yall not heard of outside? Games? Bases? Scoring? Winning? Anything? I feel as if today’s kids aren’t as active as me and my friends were at that age.
Sports have brought so many amazing opportunities to me and my family. I owe playing sports a lot of gratitude. It taught me about teamwork, self-determination, goal setting, and also introduced me to so many of my amazing friends and extended family. I would want all children to feel the excitement of hitting their first home run or defeating a rival team. The pride and joy when you have accomplished your goals and can celebrate a huge win, why should we share that with kids.
If granted the international title, I will definitely teach and participate in my program at all levels. So why not get up and let’s play.
What is your message to young women who look up to you?
I would tell them to believe and follow my favorite quote, “never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game.” It doesn’t matter if you aren’t the next Simone Biles, Lebron James, or Aaron Judge…just play. You do not have to be the next star to play sports and it’s okay if you are a Troy Bolton. You can love sports, be girlie, be extra, be whatever tickles your fancy; because those who mind…don’t matter and those who matter, don’t mind. *chef kiss*
How can people support you in this pageant?
You may make a 100% tax deductible donation to my competition by donating to me directly to my Venmo @Twillie-Cottingham or to the pageant www.thembiapageant.com you may vote for me as People’s Choice (Ms Division ALABAMA). If you want to watch the prelims and final LIVE from the Bahamas, we have virtual tickets on sale and you may receive the link by visiting the website again. Also follow me on my social medias: IG/Youtube Takeoff Twillie. I will be posting a lot of content and will give the viewers some behind the scene at this fun and amazing event.
