Zaila Avant-garde, A 14-Year-Old Girl From New Orleans, Louisiana, Is The First African-American To Win The National Spelling Bee Competition. The 2021 93rd Competition Began With 209 Spellers, Ranging In Age From 9 To 15, From The US, The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, And Japan. Jody-Anne Maxwell, From Jamaica, Was The Only Black To Win It In 1998.