As Miss Rhode Island US International 2026, I am honored to support the Still She Rose Initiative, a nonprofit program dedicated to empowering women and girls through wellness, leadership, resilience, and personal growth.
The message behind Still She Rose deeply resonates with my own story. Born in Russia and immigrating to the United States as a child, I learned early that opportunities are not always equally accessible. Through education, military service, athletics, and pageantry, I have experienced firsthand the transformative impact that mentorship, confidence, and supportive communities can have on a young woman's life.
This mission directly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5: Gender Equality, which seeks to ensure that women and girls everywhere have equal opportunities to lead, succeed, and thrive. Gender equality is not simply about opening doors—it is about providing the resources, encouragement, and representation necessary for women to walk confidently through them.
Throughout my journey as a U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer, former collegiate athlete, graduate student, and pageant titleholder, I have sought to challenge stereotypes and demonstrate that women belong in every arena—from leadership positions and higher education to athletics, military service, and public service. I believe every girl deserves to see examples of women who are breaking barriers, pursuing their ambitions, and lifting others along the way.
The Still She Rose Initiative reminds us that growth often comes through adversity. Its message reflects a truth that many women know well: we may face obstacles, setbacks, and self-doubt, but with support and perseverance, we rise stronger than before.
Your contribution helps provide leadership development, mentorship opportunities, wellness resources, and programs that inspire the next generation of young women to embrace their authentic beauty, positive spirit, and social responsibility.
I would be incredibly grateful for your support as I represent Rhode Island on the national stage. Together, we can invest in a future where every girl and woman has the opportunity to lead, succeed, and rise.
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Still She Rose is a wellness program for leaders, women and teens in the pageant industry. Funded by the B4ACUSA Foundation, wellness program initiatives are open to all pageant community members.
The ROSE is symbolic of the spirit that grows within each of us when proper care and attention is applied.
Together, we can encourage wellness through self care, positive body image, renewed self esteem and affirmation of one's identity beyond pageantry. We aim to engage in a conversation of support, honesty, reflection and awareness, in order to promote wellness as the foundation of the pageant industry.
Because each of us can say, She Struggled; and Still She Rose.
