LULA of ROSS

I want to send a message to the girls who look like me, who are often times underrepresented. As a little girl, I remember being bullied for the color of my skin. Nevertheless, I got up and walked to school, not realizing that I was internalizing feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness. Those words don’t define me—I define them and I am a proud woman, with skin as dark as night, with a story to tell. Defining my own-self worth and leading a life full of examples that depict resilience is what makes me confidently beautiful. As a child psychology student, I want to use my experience to help other children by establishing centers in the U.S. and South Sudan that help provide easy access to therapy for children who have been bullied or have had traumatic experiences. #findingmiss52 #missusa2016 @missusa

IG: @wendycity_23 YouTube: Awien Kuanyin