From Survivor to Advocate: Building a Legacy of Service Through the Miss New York USA Platform

Whether I'm mentoring young people, advocating for mental health, celebrating my Puerto Rican heritage, or serving communities across New York, my mission has always been the same: to use every opportunity to create meaningful impact greater than myself. That's why I'm pursuing Miss New York USA 2026. This journey isn't about earning a title. It's about expanding my ability to serve, represent, and inspire on an even greater scale.

As a survivor of domestic violence, I've experienced what it means to rebuild your life from the ground up. I know what it feels like to question your worth, search for your voice, and choose healing when repeating the cycle would have been easier.

Becoming a generational cycle breaker has been the greatest accomplishment of my life. As a proud first-generation Puerto Rican Latina born and raised in Queens, New York, I rarely saw women who shared my story represented in spaces of leadership, advocacy, and influence.

Today, I have the incredible honor of representing my community as an Official State Finalist for Miss New York USA, honoring the borough with pride hat shaped my character, strengthened my resilience, and empowered my life's assignment.

This journey is about leveraging one of New York’s most visible platforms to expand a mission I have been building for years. My goal is not simply to raise awareness, but to help create real change by connecting communities with resources, opportunities, education, mentorship, and leaders who have the power to move important conversations into action. I intend to advocate for survivors of domestic violence, champion mental health, mentor future leaders, celebrate Latina representation, support local businesses, and build meaningful relationships with industry leaders, community organizations, and public officials. I hope to spark a chain reaction of individuals who recognize that their voice, their story, and their authenticity have the power to create meaningful change.

This campaign isn't simply about helping me compete in a pageant. It's an investment in the young girl searching for someone who looks like her. In the survivor choosing healing. In the first-generation student daring to dream bigger. In the entrepreneurs, organizations, and local businesses strengthening our communities every day.

Every donation, partnership, sponsorship, and share helps create more opportunities for others.

✨ Who I Am

My name is Jessica Torres, and I'm a New York City content creator, speaker, mentor, entrepreneur, and community advocate who believes our stories have the power to change lives.

I've built my platform and personal brand independently, one opportunity at a time.

It wasn't built through privilege, connections, or unlimited resources. It was built brick by brick through resilience, faith, consistency, and the decision to become the generational cycle breaker my family needed.

Growing up in an environment shaped by dysfunction, emotional abuse, and adversity, I learned early on that the life I dreamed of wouldn't be handed to me. I would have to build it myself. What began as a journey of survival has become a platform for service, proving that our greatest adversity can become our greatest purpose.

Through storytelling, mentorship, community partnerships, and purpose-driven content, I've dedicated my work to educating, inspiring, and connecting people with opportunities that can change the trajectory of their lives.

Whether I'm speaking in schools, mentoring young women, partnering with nonprofit organizations, highlighting local businesses, or creating content that reaches thousands each month, my assignment in life has always been one of service.

❤️ Why This Matters

Representation has the power to change what's possible.

When a young Latina sees someone who shares her story leading with confidence, she begins to believe she can too.

When a survivor sees someone choose healing over fear, hope becomes possible.

When a first-generation student, entrepreneur, or creator sees someone from a similar background pursuing purpose while giving back, they're reminded that where they come from does not determine where they're capable of going.

The Miss New York USA platform provides an extraordinary opportunity to reach people across our state, and my goal is to use that visibility to encourage confidence, advocate for mental health, celebrate cultural identity, elevate local organizations and businesses, and connect communities with opportunities that create lasting impact.

If my journey encourages even one person to believe in themselves, break a generational cycle, pursue a dream, or become a leader in their own community, then every challenge I've overcome has been worth it.

🌎 My Platform

My mission is to empower others with the confidence, resources, and opportunities to become the person they were always capable of becoming.

Through the Miss New York USA platform and beyond, I'm committed to:

• Mentoring young women, first-generation professionals, entrepreneurs, and creators.

• Speaking at schools, colleges, conferences, nonprofit organizations, and community events across New York.

• Advocating for mental health, confidence, resilience, and personal development.

• Connecting people with educational resources, mentorship opportunities, scholarships, and professional development.

• Collaborating with nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, government agencies, and elected officials to expand access to programs that strengthen New York communities.

🗽 Supporting New York's Local Businesses

As a full-time New York City content creator, I've intentionally built my platform around highlighting the people, businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs that make our city extraordinary. I believe every small business has a story worth telling, and every story has the power to create opportunity.

The Miss New York USA platform allows me to expand the work I'm already doing on an even greater scale.

With your support, I'll be able to dedicate more time, creative resources, and meaningful partnerships to elevating local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community initiatives that deserve greater visibility. Together, we can amplify the people and organizations investing in our neighborhoods every day.

I'm especially passionate about collaborating with women-owned, Latino-owned, minority-owned, immigrant-owned, and family-owned businesses whose stories reflect the resilience, diversity, and spirit of New York.

Beyond social media, I hope to partner on community events, fundraising initiatives, educational programs, volunteer efforts, and campaigns that bring people together while supporting the organizations creating meaningful change.

💛 What Your Support Makes Possible

• Official Miss New York USA competition expenses and preparation.

• Professional branding, photography, videography, and storytelling.

• Travel throughout New York for appearances, speaking engagements, advocacy, and community events.

• Educational workshops, mentorship opportunities, and outreach initiatives.

• Partnerships with schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community leaders.

• Content that highlights local businesses, organizations, and resources making a difference across New York.

• Community initiatives that inspire confidence, leadership, civic engagement, and personal growth.

📈 Community Impact

I've been grateful to turn my passion into purpose by using my platform to educate, inspire, and serve others.

Some highlights of that journey include:

🏆 Official Miss New York USA 2026 State Finalist

👑 2025 Bronx Puerto Rican Cultural Queen

🎤 Speaker, mentor, entrepreneur, and community advocate

📱 A community of more than 10,000 followers

📈 Over 100,000 monthly organic impressions

📺 Featured on The Tamron Hall Show, ABC7 New York, Telemundo, and MetroPlusHealth's Voices of Impact

🤝 Collaborated with organizations including Building Young Leaders, Bright Light NYC, L.O.V.E., ENVSN, Girls Write Now, G.I.R.L.S. CAN, schools, libraries, and community organizations throughout New York City

🎙️ Hosted, moderated, and participated in educational workshops, mentorship programs, cultural celebrations, speaking engagements, and advocacy initiatives across New York.

🚀 Beyond Miss New York

While I'm incredibly honored to compete as an Official Miss New York USA 2026 State Finalist, I see this opportunity as the beginning, not the destination. Long after the competition ends, my mission will continue.

My vision is to grow my non-profit organization, The Progress Goddess into a movement that empowers generational cycle breakers to lead lives rooted in confidence, healing, purpose, and service.

Through this work, I hope to:

• Speak at schools, colleges, conferences, libraries, and community organizations across New York.

• Expand personal and professional mentorship for young women, first-generation professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, and future leaders.

• Develop workshops focused on confidence, leadership, personal branding, career development, entrepreneurship, and emotional wellness.

• Partner with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, elected officials, educators, and local businesses to increase access to opportunities, resources, and community initiatives.

• Continue creating educational content that encourages others to dream bigger, believe in themselves, and become the person they were always capable of becoming.

I believe real leadership is measured by the lives we impact and the opportunities we create for others.

🤝 Join the Mission

If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to learn about the heart behind this journey.

Whether you're an individual supporter, a small business, a nonprofit organization, or a community leader, your investment helps create more opportunities for mentorship, education, advocacy, collaboration, and service across New York.

If you're interested in sponsoring this journey, partnering on community initiatives, hosting an event, inviting me to speak, collaborating on content, or supporting future programming through The Progress Goddess, I would love to connect.

If this journey reminds one young person that they belong, one survivor that healing is possible, or one future leader to believe in themselves, then every step of this journey will have been worth it.

I can't wait to show you what we accomplish together.

Empowering Community Through Representation: Jessica’s Miss New York USA Campaign

From Survivor to Advocate: Building a Legacy of Leadership, Representation, and Service

Team Members