Zaila Avant-garde, a 14-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, just won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee after correctly spelling murraya — a type of tree — to clinch the championship.
To get there, the teen had to navigate her way through words like “querimonious,” “solidungulate,” and “Nepeta,” a word the teen had to reset on, and let out a joyous jump after her correct spelling.
Avant-garde has become the first African-American contestant to win the bee in 93 editions of the competition — and will receive a $50,000 cash prize.
The competition began with 209 spellers, ranging from 9 to 15 years old, from five countries: the US, the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana and Japan.
Eleven contestants entered Thursday night’s final, with Avant-garde emerging as the nation’s top speller.
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First Lady Dr. Jill Biden was on hand to cheer on the competitors at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.