Asya Branch, the new Miss USA, talks being an example to young girls and her passion for criminal justice and prison reform.
Asya Branch was crowned Miss USA on Monday and her win means so much. Not only was she the first Black woman to win Miss Mississippi USA, her Miss USA win comes right after a historic presidential race where Kamala Harris became the first Black, Native American, and woman Vice President-Elect!
During an interview with People, Asya Branch said, “It’s truly inspiring and it’s great to have these examples. Growing up, if I were to look at these powerful positions in the White House, there weren’t women taking up space. There weren’t minorities taking up space. It serves as a great example for our youth to know that it doesn’t matter what color you are, doesn’t matter what gender you are — you can accomplish your wildest dreams.”
Branch shared that she was so grateful and humbled to see something she’s been working hard for happen! In the moment when her name was announced as the winner, she said it felt so surreal!
Asya Branch’s story is quite amazing. She’s been competing in pageants since her senior year in high school and her family faced financial hardships. She’s also been extremely focused on criminal justice and prison reform since her father was incarcerated for 10 years.
“So often what people miss when they see someone on the news who’s been arrested [is] the family that they leave behind,” Branch said during her People interview. “That’s where my impetus began, on the children and families at home … And then it’s stretched into working with inmates and helping them see their purpose and speaking with them, hearing their stories and making them feel heard and feel like the humans that they are.”
Congratulations to Asya Branch on her win and we wish her the best on future endeavors and her fight for positive change!
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