Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerry Damiano

Hi Kerry, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

Growing up, my mom took my sister, brother and me to swim meets all over the Northwest. Towns I probably would never have had reason to visit, like Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Yakima, Pullman and Blackfoot, were regular destinations, and set the foundation for “Going Places.”

After college, my mom took me on my first overseas trip as a graduation present. It was one of those “10 countries in 17 days” kind of tours, where we were on a bus with 30 new-found friends, and spent a short time in all the must-see locales, which was designed to entice tourists to come back and spend more time later. It worked: I was hooked!

But I think my fearlessness for travel adventures goes back even further. My maternal grandmother was alone a lot when my grandpa was deployed during WWII and afterwards, when he had to go far and wide to find work as a heavy equipment operator. But that didn’t stop her from loading up her 2 kids (my mom and uncle) and driving across the country on her own. Keep in mind, this was the 1930-1940’s, and women were less independent then. She was ahead of her time.

So, my adventurous and independent spirit was apparently inherited from my grandma and fanned into flames by my mom!

For about 10 years after that first international excursion, I traveled with my mom. She wanted a travel companion (my dad didn’t enjoy travel, so he was all too happy for me to step up), and I needed help affording to go, so it was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and I am VERY grateful for the myriad of amazing opportunities.

Around the mid to late 90’s, I started traveling on my own (yes, I became the venerable Solo Female Traveler!), and that is when my passion for travel really came alive! I realized that if I waited for a friend to go with me, I would never get to go (“Can’t get the time off work,” Can’t leave my husband or kids that long,” “Can’t afford it,” and the like). The die was cast: I would explore the world on my own terms, going when and where the wind took me!

But it took 22 years (and really even longer if I’m being honest) for Ms. World Traveler to reveal itself. I left a “regular” job in 2000 as a President/COO of 2 multi-million-dollar companies in different states, where I commuted between them, to start my own business. My initial endeavor was as a professional entertainer, but soon added pageant coach, wardrobe consultant, Christian speaker, my own television show (2 years), and a women’s fashion line (3 years). Some of the ventures were more successful than others, but I was busy and loved what I was doing. However, I always knew something big was coming. As each new element was incorporated, I would wonder, “Is this it? Is this what I’ve been waiting for?” And until June of 2022, the answer was always No.

But one day, it was like God removed the scales from my eyes, and I could clearly see what the big thing was, what I had been searching and hoping for the last 20+ years. As I looked back over that time, each of the various ventures gave me the experience, skills, network contacts, the funds, the technology, and basically everything I needed to finally take on the challenge of Ms. World Traveler. All the waiting was so that I would be ready.

My first overseas trip was in 1984, and since then, I have been to over 130 countries and all 50 states, so calling myself Ms. World Traveler, the Queen of Travel and Shopping (TM), was a perfect fit. Ms. World Traveler is also a YouTube web series, where we explore great shopping destinations across the country and around the world to discover style, design, fashion, art and antiques, with the mission of inspiring women to travel and shop local. Each segment highlights women (and some men) designers, artists, entrepreneurs, and independent businesses by telling their stories, how they got started, and what inspires them.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

When we started less than 2 years ago, I had never been on social media, and now, the whole business is based on it and utilizes a digital platform to share our content. I’m late to the party…..but it’s never too late to try something new. I talk a lot about it never being too late, because as I look back, I did harbor some fear about being on social media: negative comments, could I keep up with the technology, and so on. It has been a stretch for me, but oh so worth it!

Another one of my challenges is on location: to shop a whole city, craft a story and write a script all in 2 days, and then film everything in one day. It is very fast paced and stressful, as I really want to find the hidden gems, but this is what the budget allows. By being careful with our time and the budget, we can go more places!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

When the idea materialized about Ms. World Traveler, I spent a lot of time researching what other travel vloggers and bloggers were doing, and what I found was excellent tips and advice, recommendations on where to stay, where to eat, what to do, how to save money, and the like. So, I knew that I had to do something different. With my background of over 40 years in the pageant industry, a graduate degree in Fashion, 20+ years as a designer, entertainer, speaker, and wardrobe consultant, combining my professional expertise with my passion for travel seemed like a no-brainer.

Wearing my Ms. World Traveler sash, which is a nod to my love and involvement in pageantry for over 40 years, gives the brand an element of glamour and schtick, as people stop me on the street to take photos and ask questions. It has also been our single most effective marketing tool, in addition to setting us apart from everyone else.

And because I’ve had my own business for 24 years, it was important to me to bring in the element of other women small business owners, designers, artists, creatives, and innovators. Each segment, we feature the history and culture of the location, as well as highlighting the stories of independent shops, studios, and galleries. Watching something being made right in front of you, learning about the process, and hearing the story behind the inspiration fuels our curiosity and hopefully, motivates viewers to shop local.

What matters most to you? Why?

My faith is the foundation of everything I do, and my highest priority is being a light and witness of what God has done in my life, as well as bringing joy and encouragement to everyone I meet. I also believe that by telling my story, women will be inspired to overcome whatever their fears and step out of their comfort zone into their passion.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://msworldtraveler.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KerryMsWorldTraveler/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerrymsworldtraveler/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ms.worldtraveler5897