Maliyah Lorenzo is a 17 year old who is a junior in high school. She attends the Laurel Springs Academy. She plans to attend the Florida Gulf Coast University with a major in Psychology. Maliyah has six siblings. Being the second oldest, she has developed a lot of patience and responsibilities with having a big family. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, her animals, singing, modeling, swimming, four-wheeling, kayaking, bike riding, and volunteering. Maliyah has been volunteering with multiple organizations since she was four years old. It's second nature for her to spend her time helping others. She's an ambassador for 4ocean and hosts beach clean-ups along the Gulf Coast. She has represented the state of Ohio, her hometown state, and currently is honored to be representing Florida, her home away from home.
What are some major achievements or accolades that you’ve accumulated?
I have received multiple awards for Student of the Month and Student of the Year. I have received an award for Best Dressed and Evening Gown Walk by the Miss Universe Organization. I was the honorary People’s Choice Award recipient in 2019. By far my favorite achievement to date was when I was recognized by The Ohio State Representative Diane V. Grendell for my outstanding achievements within my communities.
How do you use your platform as an influencer to spread “What’s Good” to the world and who have you impacted?
My platform is Everyday is Earth Day, and Serve to Conserve. Upcycle, Recycle, Repeat is what’s needed today. Items that are thrown away today won’t decompose for hundreds of years. Knowledge is powerful and education is contagious! Understanding what we’re doing to our ecosystem and how to prevent it is the key. We are the change and the change is NOW! We have the ability and our resources are set in motion to restore all organisms. TOGETHER is the only way to accomplish this goal. Habit change will make for a flourishing life! They are my favorite tags - Upcycle, Recycle and MOST definitely, REPEAT! What you do today will affect our Earth tomorrow. Everyday is EARTH DAY!
I enjoy educating my peers on how to resell their clothing instead of throwing it away, but most importantly why it’s imperative to recycle, what to recycle, how to purchase used clothing and materials, how to be cognizant of water with shortening showers, and turning off water while brushing your teeth, are just a few examples. Being the voice for the unheard is what I hold dear to my heart. The landfill wastes are overflowing and our environment depends on us. Do you hear the Eco? We need to use our strengths so that we make a difference in our environment! Taking these actions to help overcome the environmental issues we have caused yesterday will help tomorrow. I plan to do a social media blitz with weekly posts of cute ideas found at Goodwill and vintage shops to promote and inspire my peers and people of all ages to do the same.
What are some projects that you are currently working on promoting?
Using my platform; Everyday is Earth Day, and Serve to Conserve, I proactively participate in activities that promote environmental concerns and educate the public to show the different ways I reuse and recycle. I have weekly blitzes about fun ways to help SAVE our environment. Just about all of my fashions are upcycled and recreated, it's really a lot of fun!
#Upcycle #recycle #repeat
Who do you have to credit for your success?
I give a lot of credit to my mom, Laylah Loiczly, for all of the unconditional support and encouragement I have received from her throughout my entire life. One of the reasons I started pageants was because my mom competed in pageants as well. Pageantry can be a misconception to some if they're not familiar…to me AND to my sister queens, it's about empowering one another, living in a world with complete unity, body positivity, and creating confidence from the inside out!
I was raised to think of a nation bigger than me! I was taught to ALWAYS learn different ways to help others and to leave this earth better than It was. I have a special bond with pageantry and I am honored to carry out my family's legacies.
Images by Seb (Sebastien Verstraet) and Galvin Mason
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