Panellist: Lauren Williams

Lauren Williams is a 17-year-old theatre student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts from Accokeek, Maryland, in Prince George’s County. Lauren says during the COVID-19 Pandemic, “myself and many of my peers have felt a shift in more mental health and emotional well-being.” She was encouraged to create an independent youth collaborative magazine titled Rainy Daze. As editor and chief, Lauren promotes activism and individuality through art-based expression.  Rainy Daze Magazine provides a space for young artists to find their voice through  **“a wide range of topics from art, to activism. Submissions are always open”.

In March 2021, Lauren found the Miss Gorgeous Prince George’s County Pageant. She trained for three months to compete in their teen pageant program, and on June 13, she was crowned the 3rd Miss Gorgeous Prince George’s County. With her title, she advocates for arts integration in schools. Lauren now works with Showtime Productions, LLC to promote the importance of confidence and finding inner beauty to young girls across Prince George’s County while stressing the importance of prioritizing school. As 2021 Miss Gorgeous Prince George’s County, Lauren was allowed to represent Prince George’s County at the Miss Earth USA Dc, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania preliminary competition. The Miss Earth USA organization “commit themselves year-round to bring awareness to and make an impact on environmental causes.” On August 14th, she became Teen Miss Maryland Earth 2021.

As someone who struggles with anxiety, Lauren has a passion for sharing the importance of preserving your mental health and uses her title to show young girls the importance of confidence.