A Guest on the Anthony McCarthy Show

I am so thankful for my community. So many have reached out to me to support me in my journey of being a newly published author and Mrs. Essence 2013. Thank you to Carla Blackwell for getting me on the WEAA 88.9FM Anthony McCarthy Show! I had a great time discussing sexual assault and domestic violence in our community, Queendom T.E.A., my new book, Positively Bodyful and the Essence pageant system. I will be back on the show -- stay tuned! :)

Positively Bodyful Launch

What a blessing to finally see my book in print! Thank you to all those who supported me in making this possible: Mardis, Dakota, Zarah, Giselle, Mica and Shuna!

Keynote Speaker at JHU "REACH" Closing Ceremony

Today I was the keynote speaker for the Johns Hopkins Summer "REACH" Program. For 19 years, Baltimore City students have worked during the summer in this program to propel them in the area of medicine. This summer, more 250 interns participated in the program and attended the closing. 

2012: My Year as Mrs. International Beautiful

Senora Verano 2012 Pageant

I had a great time attending this pageant! I was invited by my friend and the director, Daisy Barba, to see the Senora Verano ("Miss Summer") pageant! I was joined with some fabulous queens from various systems! In the above photo, we were all asked to go on stage and introduce ourselves. We received VIP treatment the entire evening!

We knew Rubi would win! Taking photos backstage.

Layilah, Miss Teen Maryland International 2012, was such a cutie!

I know both winners, Rubi and Raiza! Congratulations again, queens!

Here I am joined by one of my Language Arts students and 2012 Lovely Ladybug mentees, Kaiyaa. After her crowning ceremony, she asked me if girls really wore dresses like the one she wore and if pageants were real. I explained briefly that the world of pageant is real. She exclaimed shared she wanted to see one "real bad" in person. I made the arrangements and she accompanied me this weekend. What a joy it was to have her along and she the excitement in response. Now, she wants to do a pageant! I love this lady... :)

Queendom T.E.A.: Lovely Ladybugs 2012 Crowning Ceremony

Queendom T.E.A.: Big Hat Tea

My mentees, the 2012 Lovely Ladybugs! Once again, our lovely ladies learned table etiquette through a tea party and participated in a cupcake decorating contest! A special thank you to Mothyna James-Brightful, Visionary Founder of Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation, Inc. for talking to the ladies about positive affirmations. Every lady receive the book, Because I Am a Queen, coauthored by Mothyna! Additional thanks to Bradley Alston, director at the YMCA of Central Maryland for his support and sharing history with our young ladies.

Finished products

The winning cupcake!

Mother & Daughter Tea: A Success!

I am very thankful for all of the support and the 88 attendees of our Queendom T.E.A. 2nd Annual Mother & Daughter Tea! I remember last year only having 60 guests--we just keep growing! :) I am only sharing one photo now, but I will update this post this week with photos from our photographers, Picture This! Studio. 

Easter Basket Community Service in Queendom T.E.A.

For the past 3 years, I have considered it a pleasure to be a donor and volunteer for Dreamcatchers for Abused Children (DFAC). During Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April), the goal of the organization was to serve neglected and abused children by providing them with the joy of having a special Easter Basket made just for them. DFAC are aiming to provide these baskets to children from the birth to 17-years old. Queendom T.E.A., again, proudly made this a community service project.  

 We purchased the materials to create and ship 10 Easter baskets!

 With love and care, the queens of Queendom T.E.A. put each of the baskets together.

I would like to thank Nisha MacDonald and Wendi Shumard for their contributions to this project!

April Flower Power Workshop in Queendom T.E.A.

A special thank you to Angel Richardson, a Life Coach and entrepreneur, who sponsored and taught this workshop! The other mentors, Nisha MacDonald and Wendi Shumard, the girls and I self-designed and made flower pens! Afterwards, they wrote encouragement cards to teachers and friends with their new pens as a community service project. I am very proud of the girls who attended the workshop and thankful to Angel, who has been such a tremendous support to Queendom T.E.A. this year. 

 I could not just sit back and watch... lol.

 Ms. Shumard deep in thought... 

 Angel is a great instructor who knows very well how to work with teens!

 Raffle time!!

 A queens wins a very special raffle gift! ...and I am peeking in the bag, lol. 

 Raffle Winner!!

 A thank you gift from several queens to two others...

 Workshop Queens!

My Queendom T.E.A. pen! :)