What does empowerment mean to you?

Hello! My name is Aliya and I am your Ms. West Coast Regency International 2020/2021.

Someone once asked me “What does empowerment mean to you?” To me, empowerment means being bold, strong, and courageous enough to follow your dreams or goals no matter what obstacles might lie in your way.  In particular, when you find yourself in a unique situation where no one else has previously done what you want to do, it’s that “I can do it” attitude and mindset that keeps you moving forward.  Just knowing in your heart that you can do anything that you put your mind and energy toward accomplishing even if others doubt your ability to be successful. Empowerment means making your own path and speaking your own truth unapologetically. The feeling of empowerment can be all-encompassing and surprisingly contagious. Once one woman feels empowered she can’t help but radiate that sense to those around her and help to lift others up and guide them in their own path of empowerment. Empowered women empower others and that’s what is so great about pageantry and the Regency International Organization- there are empowered women everywhere you look! These women are successful and passionate about their platforms; blazing new trails and being the change they want to see in the world.

Personally, my own path began in the suburbs of Philadelphia where I was born and lived until I attended college at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County for my undergraduate studies in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. There, I was involved in the Meyerhoff and MARC U-STAR programs which are designed to encourage minority participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) discipline through which I further realized my interest in medicine and neuroscience. I then went on to complete a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and a medical degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN before moving to San Diego for post-graduate training in Child Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology.

Based upon my own experiences and the unique challenges often faced by under-represented minorities (URM) in general, I am personally very committed to advocating for and participating in initiatives to increase diversity and inclusivity in STEM disciplines and medicine. I want young girls of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds to know that they can do anything with their lives with dedication and hard work. It encourages me every time I hear a parent tell me that their daughter wants to be a physician like me when she grows up or that she is excited that her doctor looks like her which is often a new experience for that child. I remember an encounter when I was in medical school where I was riding an elevator in my white coat and an older African American woman got into the elevator with me.  Before she exited the elevator she smiled and told me she was proud of me. I have never forgotten that woman or the many others before me who have made it possible for me to have the opportunities I have today. I haven’t done anything alone and it goes without saying that I stand on the shoulders of giants. In that regard, one of the important aspects of my platform is the importance of establishing pipelines of prospective URM individuals who can be mentored along their path toward a successful outcome. Mentoring has been a very important aspect of my life and it has been instrumental in getting me to where I am today. I believe that while we make our own way forward, we always need to remember to reach back and bring others along with us.

Are you an empowered woman who is passionate about your life, your profession, your cause, and your community? If so, then there is a place for you in the Regency International Organization.