Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Alexander. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jessica , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The Miss America Organization is the number one provider of scholarships for women in the United States. There is a demographic of black and brown girls who are missing out on these opportunities simply because they do not have the awareness and training to attain them.

In 2004, I competed in my first pageant and from that moment I was hooked. Unfortunately, I did not know how to proceed with organizations that provided me with the types of scholarships I desired until it was almost too late. On top of that, when I found the organizations, I didn’t know how to properly prepare so that I was successful on stage.

After winning Miss Black Alabama USA in 2014, I committed to making sure that young women, who were interested in pageantry, had the coaching and awareness to make their dreams come true.

Since founding Crown Chasers Pageantry in 2016, I have successfully coached women to their state titles, helped them raise thousands of dollars, and empowered them to leverage their title for future opportunities.

Crown Chasers Pageantry is where pageantry and purpose collide. It is our true desire to ensure that our clients shine on stage and in their community.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was always the little girl who watched pageants on television growing up. I would envision myself on the stage with the crown on my head after being named the winner.

In 2004, I entered my first competition, Montgomery County Junior Miss, in Montgomery, Alabama. It was one of the most incredible experiences and I knew I had to keep competing.

In 2008, I won the Miss Black and Gold Pageant. I continued to compete and won Miss Black Alabama USA in 2014. I was the director for the Miss Black Alabama US Ambassador Pageant from 2015-16. I won Miss Natural Hair and Health Expo Beauty 2018.

I launched Crown Chasers Pageantry in 2016 to ensure that all contestants had access to quality coaching that would produce the highest results: A crown. We provide digital products, in-person coaching, live events, and group coaching to our clients so they can be fully prepare for life as a queen.
There has not been a year since our launch that we have not coached a winner or a finalist on the state, national, or international level.

Crown Chasers Pageantry is important to me because pageantry is where I built my confident and gained the skills and platform to successfully launch my brand.

It is important to know that pageantry goes beyond having a pretty face. Being a queen gives women across the globe an opportunity to make an impact on their communities through their service. Queens are paving the way in all industries and using pageantry to help them finance their educational opportunities as well.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn that I couldn’t have a profitable pageant coaching business.

When many people think about pageantry, they are not fully aware of the investments that women make annually to earn their crown. They also do not understand how impactful it can be to win a title.

I put my coaching business on the back burner because many people told me I should pursue something more “serious”. And after a couple of years of traditional business coaching, I knew I had to shift back to my original goal of coaching pageant clients. Now, I am able to use both skill sets to help my clients win.

Lesson: The idea that keeps nagging at you is worth exploring. Don’t allow the limited perspective of others stop you from launching a potentially successful brand

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I pride myself on over-delivering for every queen who chooses Crown Chasers Pageantry and my results speak for themselves. Since launching in 2016, I have coached 2 national queens, 2 state queens, and several Top 5 finalists. As client Candace Johnson, Miss Black District of Columbia US Ambassador 2016 said, “If you are looking for a pageant coach who will help you unlock and tap into your God-given gifts, talents, and confidence, I definitely recommend Jessica!

Contact Info:

• Website: operationevolve.com/crownchaser
• Instagram: @crownchaserspageantry
• Facebook: Facebook.com/crownchaserspageantry
• Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/jessicacalexander
• Twitter: @bossupwithjess

Image Credits
Calvin Howard