GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina A&T graduates
and former student-athletes Arlene and Darlene Mitchell (Class of 2007) will
appear in Jet Magazine as the
publication's Jet "Beauties of the
Week." The magazine is scheduled to be in stores on Monday, August 20.
Arlene and
Darlene, who are identical twins from Henderson, N.C., have a unique story outside
of being featured in Jet. The two
women still live with one another, but they coach at rival schools. Arlene is
the assistant volleyball coach at A&T, while Darlene is an assistant
volleyball coach at N.C. Central.
Both women
played volleyball for the Aggies from 2003-06, and both are considered two of
the best players to ever play at A&T. Arlene still owns seven school
records, including the most kills in a single set, match and career. She is
also the only player in school history to record 1,000 career kills and digs.
Darlene ranks among the top five in many of the same statistical categories. They
led A&T to the MEAC championship match in 2005.
"Jet Magazine is a phenomenal
magazine for people of color! It not only shows who we are as black people, but
also how far we've come," said Arlene. "I have always looked at the Jet Beauty of the Week for as long as I
can remember. To me, it shows black women can be successful, influential and
beautiful all at the same time. The women are usually the black community's
future leaders or brightest students. Why wouldn't I want to be a part of
something so empowering?
Jet has marketed its weekly toward
African Americans for more than 60 years. It's "Beauty of the Week" feature has
been in existence almost as long. Each week an African American female,
photographed in a one-or-two piece swimsuit, appears midway through the
publication. The feature includes her name, profession, hobbies and a personal
statement. Women from a wide range of occupations, HBCU students and or
aspiring models have been among the magazine's Beauties.
North
Carolina A&T head bowling coach James Williams is a freelance photographer
for Jet. He was the photographer on the photo shoot.
