From the Stage to the Classroom

Exciting Life Update! I hope you'll read through to the end — I promise it's worth it!

Someone once told me, “You can do everything, just not all at once.” That advice came to mind after my last pageant in 2023, where I won the People’s Choice Award and placed as a Top 20 finalist, both of which gave me more exposure than I could have ever imagined. When the glitter settled, I was faced with my next big decision: compete again or apply to grad school.

I didn’t make this choice lightly. Many of you may not know, but I first started competing in 2010, when pageant stages were far less diverse. From the beginning, my mission was to reshape the narrative of beauty by showing up and mentoring other interested Black and Brown girls so they would know they belonged on that stage, too. 

Naturally, I was drawn to the idea of competing again because it felt like my mission wasn’t yet complete. However, after a lot of reflection, I decided to start preparing for grad school instead. My first step was applying and being accepted into Management Leadership for Tomorrow’s (MLT) MBA Prep program that November of 2023!

Joining that program kicked off a very different kind of year. While the months following Miss NJ had been packed with travel and events, 2024 was much quieter. My calendar shifted from photoshoots and events to campus tours across the country, professional coffee chats to explore my next career move, and lots of time buried in exam prep and applications. My days became a steady cycle of gym, work, study, repeat.

One of the biggest gifts of MLT was being paired with a coach who helped me reframe my journey. I realized that my mission to redefine beauty standards wasn’t ending – I was simply shifting vehicles. Through my career exploration, I discovered so many untapped opportunities at the corporate level to push for greater inclusivity and innovation within the beauty industry. That realization reignited my purpose in a brand-new way.

By the end of 2024, I was proud and excited to submit an application that authentically represented me and my experiences, carrying forward a renewed sense of mission.

Which brings me to today and the news I’m beyond excited to share: this August, I will be joining the Class of 2027 at Yale University’s School of Management to pursue my MBA as both a Consortium and Forte Fellow! 

I remain incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported on this journey! And, in closing, my inbox is always open to anyone considering a similar transition and interested in learning more about my experience.