OMGGG! My favorite is on this weeks blog. My girl, Sydney Dorsey, is an absolute gem and exudes confidence like no other. She is someone who carries our #iLikeMe mission proudly whether she’s in the classroom promoting UNM’s National Platform, or while speaking to a stranger out on the town! Sydney has recently started her own photography business as she captures amazing headshots of some of the most beautiful ladies.
MEET UNM TEEN
Hi! I’m Sydney Dorsey! I’m 18 years old and the current USA National Teen! I will be attending East Georgia State College in the fall. My future plans are to become an Aesthetic Nurse! A hobby of mine is making others feel beautiful in their own skin while capturing it all on camera!
As the USA National Miss Teen, how have you implemented inspiring young ladies each day and how has this affected your life? Inspiring others is just a way of life for me! We live in a society where people are constantly telling us to be someone we are not. I was a victim of this. I wanted to change everything about me because I thought I had to live up society’s standards. After a while, I realized that I was who I was for a reason. I then realized that there are so many others out there placing those same limitations on themselves. I started to instill in others that you are who you are, no changing that. Don’t surround yourself with people who want to change that. Surround yourself with those who love and accept who you are and encourage you to be your best self every day. Those are the only people you will ever need by your side. I love to teach this message because not only am I inspiring others, but I’m able to watch people grow and flourish… which impacts me in ways I will forever cherish.
Because COVID-19 was unexpected for many of us, what has been the most important lesson you’ve learned during quarantine and being away from friends and even family? Definitely how to appreciate the little things in life and always look to the brighter side of things. Social gathering shut down so I spent the majority of my time inside with my family. This really allowed me to take a step back and realize the everyday things we take for granted. Things we used to under-appreciate become the highlight of my day. Moments such as taking my dog for a walk, watching a movie with my mom, face-timing my friends, eating a family dinner. Those simple, under-appreciated moments soon became the highlight of my day. Always remember to never take little things and simple moments for granted!
What does being a leader mean to you? How are you a leader to others? Being a leader to me means being relatable. If you are not relatable no one will want to look up to you, ask you for advice, or even approach you. You have to show that you to struggle with daily problems and are not above anyone. I am always 100% myself around others (the best way to be). I show my flaws, my weaknesses, and everything that makes me who I am. I want others to know that I am here for them. I won’t judge you for anything you may be going through, because I too may have experienced a similar situation. I will help you through it and will always be one call away. Above anything else, I will always be your friend.
Since iLikeMe is a National Sponsor for the USA National Miss Pageant, tell us why you chose UNM and what your favorite thing of competition in Orlando was? I was looking for a pageant that allowed me to make an impact on a much larger scale. I wanted an organization that was going to help get my voice out there. That is when I discovered the USA National Miss organization and its national platform, The Crown Cares. This organization and its national platform have allowed me to make an impact in classrooms and appearances all throughout the country. I’ve been able to teach those simple but oh so needed lessons of what it means to love yourself and encourage others to do the same.
I think my favorite part about competing at UNM Nationals is I didn’t even feel like I was competing in a pageant, I felt like I was taking a weeklong vacation surrounded by other empowered women. I made so many friends and connections that I will forever cherish. Those friends I made when I started in this organization have become some of the best people in my life today. When you become a part of USA National Miss you become a part of something much bigger than pageantry… you become a part of a family.
5. What is your favorite aspect of the iLikeMe organization and how do you feel that is has motivated you to be the very best version of yourself?
I love that iLikeMe uses social media to share the need for inspiring messages to today’s society. There are still people out there today who have such a negative view of social media, but organizations such as iLikeMe are changing the game. I’m a senior who is about to graduate and have been homeschooled for the past four years of my high school career. I didn’t get out as much as I used to so I depended on social media as my primary source of connecting with others. I would scroll through social media and see so much negativity until I scrolled to an iLikeMe post. Those impactful posts from iLikeMe put that much-needed positivity in my newsfeed. Social media isn’t a negative thing, it is all about how you use it and who you follow. So if you’re seeing negativity on your social media, maybe you should un add those people or unfollow those accounts (just like I did) and start following accounts such as iLikeMe (just like I did 
).
Follow Sydney Dorsey for more including her 2020 USA National Miss Teen reign, @sydneydorseyy and @usanationalteen.
