Background
Seawright was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Seawright was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
She attended Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi, where she was the first African American to earn a degree in music at Mississippi University for Women, and majored in Vocal Music and Business at that university.
Toni became the first African American to hold a recital in vocal music at MUW as well. She was the fourth runner-up in the Mission America Pageant, representing the state of Mississippi in 1987. Seawright sang background vocals for artists such as Teena Marie, Freddie Jackson, Tony Terry, RuPaul, Shaggy, and Laura Branigan.
Seawright starred alongside Stephanie Mills and Andre DeShields in the musical The Wiz.
Mississippi Seawright made her Broadway debut in Street Corner Symphony and Delta Rising, both at the 651 Arts Theater. at the Billie Holiday Theater. Seawright most recently appeared starring as Mission Mamie in "The Widow and Mission Mamie" at the Harlem School of the Arts.
The duo have worked with famed producers Full Force as well as Magick Blyss Entertainment, founded by Kevin Hunte, of So You Think You Can Dance fame. Seawright"s ex-husband is Keith "Wild Child" Middleton, who starred in STOMP. The two had two sons together, Qaasim and Kahlil.
Seawright has guest starred twice on the Nickelodeon musical comedy series The Naked Brothers Band, which co-stars her on-and-off-screen son, Qaasim, who appeared in Home Box Office"s The Music in Maine.
Seawright"s younger son, Khalil, starred in Noggin"s Jack"s Big Music Show. Qaasim was a finalist on Season 14 of American Idol.
In 1987, Seawright made history as the first African American to become Mission Mississippi and was the fourth runner-up in 1988’s Mission America pageant. She went on to compete for Mission West, the local chapter preliminary to the Mission America Pageant and won. This win put her in the position to compete for the state"s Mission Mississippi Pageant in 1987. She went on to capture the coveted crown, making history as the very first African American to ever win.
