We recently connected with Laurel Barrett and have shared our conversation below.

Laurel , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Laurel is someone who believes in taking risks in life, even if that means potentially not enjoying the experience so you don’t regret not trying. She started competing in pageants in her 30s after seeing an ad for a local pageant and has since been crowned Miss Colorado Springs for America for 3 years and International Ms. Colorado for the last 2 years. Despite the glamour associated with pageants, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into them and you have to be ready to serve your community at all times.

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

As a proud fourth-generation Colorado native, Laurel has a wide range of interests and accomplishments. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Denver, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She also recently completed her Master of Business Administration. She grew up in a loving family that includes her parents, her little sister who is her hair stylist, and Puzzle, a Chesapeake Bay retriever who is a member of the family! Through lots of practice and persistence, Laurel has won many championships with a variety of Hula Hoops, which is an enjoyable form of exercise. She also loves the great outdoors that Colorado offers and goes paddle boarding as often as she can. With a heart for others, Laurel has been a healthcare professional for over 18 years and uses her skills to put people first. She recently was bestowed an award for the Walgreens Champion of Champions program in the Corporate and Social Responsibility category. She is also the proud recipient of several community impact awards. She has been recognized for the extensive amount of volunteer work and time that she has given for the benefit of those in need. She lovingly encourages others to find a meaningful cause and volunteer, for the reward of doing so will always outweigh the effort. Laurel has been a planner and goal-setter for her entire life, and there is always something on the horizon for her to accomplish. Her professional goal is to continue advancing her career, for she derives great satisfaction in knowing that she is helping others live their best lives. Her personal goal is becoming her own best self because she knows that by being one’s best, she can inspire others to do the same.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Like everyone else, Laurel’s life changed a lot during the pandemic. Until that point, she had always thought that her dream career was to work in a pharmacy. She had been a pharmacy technician for 15 years and that was the career that she was going to retire with. Life dramatically changed during the pandemic and several new doors opened for her. She received a few promotions and was able to return to school which allowed her to move to her current position as an analyst/ project manager. Until she had this new position she did not know all the opportunities that were available. Her advice to anyone is to look outside the box and see if there is something else that brings you joy. Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith, trust that something wonderful is waiting for you.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Laurel believes it is best to grow her audience organically by meeting people in person and being involved in many events. At the moment she may not have that large of a following but she does have a very active community that she can rely on. If you are just trying to grow your numbers for your social media it is a good idea to join groups where other people have the same goals and values as you. It is also important to connect with others that share your same interests and goals so you have something in common to start with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://queenlaurelb.wordpress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/InternationalMsColorado2023
• Facebook: https://https//www.facebook.com/InternationalMsColorado2023
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-barrett/
• Other: https://www.pageantplanet.com/profile/laurel-barrett?role=Contestant https://www.amazon.com/author/queenlaurelb

Image Credits
Catherine Fiehn Photography-Connecticut Photographer Graphique Fine Art Photography Eva Flis Photography