Zaila Avant-Garde: 5 Things To Know About The First African American, 14, To Win Scripps Spelling Bee
We have a new Scripps National Spelling Bee champ: 14-year-old Zaila Avant-Garde! After the annual competition was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zaila emerged triumphant at the 2021 bee, making her the first Black American to take home the top prize. However, she’s not only an expert speller, but also a rising basketball star with multiple Guinness World Records to her name. Here’s 5 things to know about her.