We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cornelia Leach. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cornelia below.
Cornelia, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
My mother was a single parent for most of my life, since I was 6yrs old. I believe she “did right” in so many areas. Starting with naming me as birth; I am named after my Grandmother who I did not have the chance to meet. Cornelia R. Streeter was an entrprenuer, worked in politics, had 9 children, was a leader in her community, and so much more! I feel that hearing those stories, seeing my mother do the exact same when raising me, was RIGHT! My mother did everything right from picking the best schools for me to attend, Roycemore College Prep School in Evanston, to helping me finicnailly in college, graduating with 3 degrees from Robert Morris University (BA, MBA dual degree), to even helping me on set at every photoshoot I have being a Mom-a-ger! My mom did EVERYTHING RIGHT and I love her dearly for continuing to raise me everyday!
Cornelia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a 29-year-old African American woman who enjoys watching reruns of “A Different World,” shopping, and spending time with family! In 2011, I graduated from Roycemore College Preparatory School – a small community of families that truly cared about one another’s success. I decided to go to a small University in Chicago – Robert Morris University in the loop, pursuing my bachelor in Business Administration, Concentration Management in 2013, master’s of Business Administration, Concentration Management in 2015, and most recently adding a Concentration to my master in Human Resources August of 2018.
During the time frame of my graduate degree, I worked at PeopleScout to start my HR career, a wonderful call center that showed me the skeleton of recruiting. I then moved on to NorthShore University HealthSystem after obtaining my master’s. Since then I have worked about eight years in Human Resources at various companies and various industries (b2b tech, food, hospitality, pharmaceutical, and non-profit family services). Currently I am working as a Human Resources Coordinator at Metropolitan Family Services helping hire employees all over the city of Chicago and neighboring suburban areas to empower families to learn, earn, heal, and thrive. As for future goals, I plan to earn my PhD! With my PhD I will be giving back to the young adults as a leader, professor, and mentor!
Aside from working full-time as a Human Resource Coordinator, I model full-time, and I most recently reigned as Miss Illinois 2019-2021 for Majestic International Pageant! International competition took place August 2021, were I placed 1st Runner-Up! I have also reigned for Miss Globe United States State Pageant 2nd Runner-Up (March of 2019), Miss Black US Ambassador (2018), competed in Nationals June 2018, National Elite Pageant 3rd Runner-Up (2017), and I also competed in National American Miss (NAM) from the age of 9-22 receiving an abundance of awards, state titles, city titles, and placing Top 10 in Nationals (California 2013). My platform is Reach One, Teach One: servicing volunteer opportunities every free chance I get, working to be the best person I can not only as pageant queen, but as an African American leader in today’s generation! Through that mission I reach one in order to teach one!
As for modeling, I am a free agent, but looking for the best fit with an agency! I am a strong, plus size model, who has walked many runway shows: LOLC Chicago Fashion Show 2017, 2018, and 2019 in NYC. BeautifulYouTour in NYC 2018 and 2019, Kentucky Derby Fashion Show in 2019, and The Pageant Experience. I have also been published in international magazines: Meraki Tribe (twice), Con Magazine, GMaro, Lyun Magazine (twice), and much more to come in the future; I promise! I have worked with some amazing photographers over the years as well; Kayleigh with @doozy, Dazzle Shots, Scott Broaddus, Elance, TCO Photos, Reno, Elijah, Brin Hill, Hailey Marie, Aaron Taber, and Darnell Hood. My future goals in modeling include being a household plus-size model name such as everyone remembers Tyra Banks!
I also work parti-time as a Barista at Starbucks! This experience is new, exciting, and one that I enjoy every evening! I have always dreamed of working at Starbucks since ordering ym first frappachino at the age of 12! I plan to work hard at becoming a “Coffee Master” and continuing to be the best Barista in Morton Grove!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
A particular goal or mission driving me to my creative journey would be making my mother, grandmother, late autnies, living familes so proud of me; and happy to share my story! When I hear my family proud of me, it warms my heart completly! That drive gets me up in the morning, feeds me the fuel I need all day, and helps me through the tough times as well!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I have many stories from my journey that illustrate my resilience; it’s hard to pick one. As an African-American there are daily struggles, set-backs, and negative energy thrown my way from the car I drive, the clothes I wear, the proper tone of my voice, my hair, my size, etc. I remember as this happened yesterday that I had a modeling agency tell me that “being plus size is not an option” futher explaining that “weight loss should be your goal, being overweight it’s hard to get a company to want to hire you.” Although that hurt, and it made me think twice, I realized after that all my progress with my weight loss journey! I have grown as an adult, features have changed, and overall I have changed. My size does define me, in the best way! I am a beautiful plus size woman! I had to tell myself that everyday and I know that resilence would carry me through to work with only designers, photographers, etc who wanted to work with me as I am!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cornelialeach.wixsite.com/reachoneteachone
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confidentnature/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cornelia.leach.313
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cornelia-leach-a567a363/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/confidentnature
Image Credits
@Thatsdoozy – Kayleigh Kay @Juliagartsmanphotography – Julia @fourpercentvison @natecampbellshots