Miss Independents

The pandemic has affected all of us in different ways. Ashley and Jenny took some much needed time for themselves getting a grip on trying to navigate this new normal. We'll catch you up on everything from Ashley getting engaged to Jenny experiencing a horrible natural disaster in her city.

Are you having a hard time understanding "Black Lives Matter"? Wondering how to support our black community during this time? Questioning yourself on how you can relate to what's happening? This one is for you. Miss Wisconsin USA and TV journalist, Gabriella Deyi, joins us to share her experience as a woman of color.

Aaishwariya Gulani was recently crowned Miss India USA and is currently a medical student aspiring to become an ophthalmologist. Beauty, Brains & Vision is what epitomizes Aaishwariya's profile right from school Valedictorian, Wharton business graduate, Mayo clinic researcher and publisher, to medical school student with simultaneous artistic achievements like her Bharatnatyam Arangetram while mentoring and leading her community locally and internationally focused to eradicate needless blindness from the world. Aaishwariya Gulani has always been avidly involved in her surrounding community. As she progresses through her medical education, she has had the opportunity to provide care all around the world for underprivileged populations. Her work with healthcare globally is something she wants to continue to work towards to improve global health disparities world wide. As a physician and current title holder of Miss India USA, it is her belief and mission to spread the idea that people can pursue both: Medicine and their passions.

Shree Saini is our reigning Miss World America Washington, and a global speaker, who inspires others to overcome their hardships, be kind 100% of the time and live A JOYFUL LIFE! Shree is a survivor of facial burns and a heart surgery for a permanent pacemaker implant, just at the age of 12. Shree believes that we need to nourish our hearts daily with positive thoughts, so that we can overcome difficulties and remain eternally grateful. Shree recently graduated from the University of Washington, while being a visiting student at Harvard, Yale and Stanford University. Shree's life story of overcoming struggles and her volunteer work has earned recognition and awards from the Governor, Secretary of State and many dignitaries around the world. Shree was even voted the “Best Pageant Titleholder” at the Global Beauty Awards.

What is spiritual health? Checking in with YOURSELF. During this pandemic, our anxieties have been through the roof. Jenny and Ashley talk to Kelly Mosser, an intuitive tarot advisor, who is able to walk us through our feelings and give us a little guidance.

Jayme Hunter is the definition of resilient. From divorce, to losing a parent, to balancing work with being a mother, she's endured many different obstacles at only 30 years old. Jayme walks us through grieving different types of losses, including loss of a job. Sometimes our lives pan out to be completely different than what we had always pictured, and we have to learn to adjust. We can either dwell on it, or accept it, and move on to become greater than our circumstances. Jayme inspires us to do just that.

With more than two decades of experience traveling the world as a platform artist, Sherri Jessee is an accomplished hair/makeup artist in fashion editorial, runway, film and television work. Recent endeavors include lead hair and makeup for the Sundance Shortlisted movie, Born In Bristol, and several national TV commercials. Her most recent innovation, Elegant Organized Beauty™ is a unique system of beauty tools acclaimed by beauty editors world wide to help you clean up the clutter and get gorgeous fast because your entire face is in one place. Although Sherri has lived a successful life running her own business, she digs deep into the challenges that come with being your own boss.

After graduating from Lindenwood University, Susie Evans landed an international performing contract with Tokyo Disney Land. She worked abroad for 26 months. Susie was immersed in a new culture, that eventually led her to another passion- Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Although to many, she doesn't seem like your typical beauty queen, Susie made her debut on the Miss Virginia USA stage after her return to the U.S. Last month, she achieved her goal of winning the title, and will go on to compete at the nationally televised Miss USA pageant this year.

After a holiday break, Ashley and Jenny catch up and talk New Year's resolutions. From our careers to health/fitness to personal life, it all starts with setting a goal. Let's get ready to take on 2020!

Sam Anderson learned independence at a younger age, after losing both of her pilot parents in a tragic plane crash. That didn't stop Sam from wanting to earn her pilot license and continuing to advocate for women in aviation. On top of becoming a pilot, Sam is the current Miss Virginia United States, as well as a teacher who is currently earning her Master's Degree. She is the prime example of a Miss Independent who doesn't let adversity stop her from achieving any goal.

Craig Hughes founded Body by Craig, in April 2013, to provide top pageant competitors with the same individualized one-on-one training that elite athletes get, with the goal of maximizing each client’s fullest potential and competition results. As most pageant competitors can relate to balancing a healthy lifestyle with a busy schedule, Ashley and Jenny decided to pick Craig's brain about what independent women can do about staying committed to their health.

When are you giving too much time to your professional goals and not enough time for yourself? Balance is something many of us goal-getters struggle with, as we like to do it all. Did you know taking time for yourself can actually push you to achieve your goals sooner? Ashley and Jenny talk about their experience with learning how much on our plates is TOO much.

Singer/songwriter Erin Alvey walks us through the grind of a country music/EDM artist. Her talk about "the doldrums" is something we can all relate to in our careers- when you're sailing, sometimes you'll hit a no wind zone, and you never know when that wind will pick up again. Therefore, you're not sure where you're going. You just have to stay positive.

Pageants or not, when you put your ALL into a goal and things didn't go your way, you're left in a very difficult place. Especially, if you were only given one shot to try and accomplish a goal that you spent months or years to prepare for. Ashley and Jenny talk about the emotions and feelings they experienced after competing at Miss USA.

Deshauna Barber became the first soldier to ever win the title of Miss USA. From learning how to grieve, after losing her mother to cancer, while trying to balance the duties of Miss USA, this powerhouse woman has been through so many obstacles to get to where she is today. Deshauna gives some incredibly motivating advice for those who have lost a loved one while trying to accomplish their career goals.

Comparing your journey to someone else's in the same career field is something that's much too common. Olympic qualifier Samantha Schultz talks about the importance of having a mindset that you're competing against nobody but yourself. As she prepares for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 for the sport of Modern Pentathlon, Samantha stays busy not only with training but also with being a wife and a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.

Travis Stevens is a 3-time Olympian, 2016 Olympic silver medalist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who recently retired and is currently transitioning to business and family life. After moving across the country and taking a chance on himself, he qualified for his first Olympic team. We should all have the confidence to take a chance on ourselves, and Travis' story will inspire you to do just that.

Trying to manage a serious relationship, while working towards success in a career field, is one of the biggest challenges independent people face today. Women are becoming more and more career-driven. So, how do we find that balance? Jenny and Ashley talk about their own personal experiences with trying to be the women who can "do both."

After struggling with her identity, Caitlyn Murray produced an LGBTQ+ short film on YouTube that related to her experiences. The film, titled SPARK, now has over 1,200,000 views and has contributed to her success as a filmmaker, YouTuber and videographer. Listen to her inspirational story on coming out, to growing up with an alcoholic father, to her career in film-making.

A multi-million dollar producing real-estate agent with RE/MAX Fine Properties and a Top 15 finalist at Miss USA 2018, Logan Lester has already accomplished some remarkable things at a young age. She was awarded one of HAR's Top 20 under 40 Rising Stars. Whether you're in real-estate, or need that extra push to learn what it takes to reach your goal, this episode is for you!

Do you ever catch yourself basing your success off of other people? In a world of social media, it's easy to feel like you're not enough because of being able to constantly see what others are doing. As former pageant queens, Jenny and Ashley are very familiar with this topic, and have also learned to turn comparison into motivation.

Chairman and CEO of the Magic City Auto Group, plus an investor/advisor to more than 75 startups, if there's one person who knows success it's Cameron Johnson. Making his first million before high school graduation, he learned entrepreneurship at a young age. His story will inspire you to "just go do it."

You don't have to fit into one mold, and that's what this military badass turned beauty queen/Sports Illustrated model proves true. After Courtney Smits competed on the Miss USA stage, she went on to pursue her dream of modeling. Recently turned down by 6 different modeling agencies for being "too tall" or "too big," she didn't let that stop her and beat out hundreds of other women to become a Sports Illustrated Swim Search Sweet 17 finalist.

Captain of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, a former NBA dancer and Miss Maryland 2014, Jade Kenny is no stranger to being in front of large crowds. Her competitive nature will give you inspiration to be that goal-getter and to never fear rejection.

We spoke with Bachelor/Bachelor In Paradise alum Ashley Iaconneti, ahead of her marriage to Jared Haibon, to find out what her key to success is. Despite attending Syracuse University for her Master's in Broadcasting and Public Communications, Ashley says she wouldn't be where she is today if it weren't for The Bachelor.

Co-Host Jenny Valliere opens up for the first time publicly about some of the childhood adversity she faced. Growing up she would hide her battle with the effects of parental substance abuse. Now, she's been inspired to become more transparent in hopes of motivating others to become greater than their circumstances.

We dive deep into co-host Ashley Vollrath's story and talk everything from her military childhood to her pageant journey to life as it is now. This episode proves true that there's so much more to a person than what you see on the outside.

Jenny and Ashley discuss how they met and why they decided to create this podcast. "Bathroom besties" is a real thing! Get ready and be one of the firsts to hear some untold stories about who these former beauty queens really are. Join them in their journeys to becoming successful, self-made women.