07/18/2026
Some people are blessed with one woman who changes their life. Somehow, I was blessed with a village.
One gave me life, another who chose to love me like I was her own, and others who adopted me as their own. My mama and my second mama, Mel (Gaga), have been the steady hands behind every dream, every victory, every setback, and every chapter in between. They have loved me when I was easy to love and, more importantly, when I wasn’t. They have celebrated every milestone, wiped away countless tears, prayed prayers I didn’t even know I needed, and reminded me of who I am whenever I forgot. But these pictures also remind me that family isn’t always defined by blood. Sometimes, it’s defined by the people who simply choose you.
To my adopted mamas, Jess, Carolina, Tracy, and Jean, thank you for becoming so much more than coworkers. You have become my family, my encouragers, and some of my biggest supporters. The fact that you came to your very first pageant just to cheer me on is something I’ll never forget. You celebrated something that means so much to me because it mattered to me, and that kind of love is rare. Thank you for believing in me, showing up for me, and reminding me that the family we build along the way can be just as meaningful as the one we’re born into.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the richest lives aren’t measured by what we accomplish. They’re measured by the people who stand beside us through it all. The ones who clap the loudest, pray the hardest, pick us up when we fall, and never let us forget who we are.
Here’s to the women who remind us that love has no limits, family has no boundaries, and showing up for someone can change their life forever. ❤️
