About
Meet Alex
Alexandra (Alex) de Roos is a 2 time nonprofit founder, dancer, choreographer, and current Miss Winter Haven. She is a student at the University of South Florida's Judy Genshaft Honors college majoring in Psychology on a Pre-Med track. After graduating, Alex plans to attend medical school to become a neuropsychiatrist.
At the age of 14, Alex moved away from home to New York City to study at the School of American Ballet (SAB), one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world and the feeder school for the New York City Ballet. Alex trained at SAB for five years learning from renowned faculty and performing in various in studio showings and workshops. Unfortunately, Alex's dance career ended after sustaining an incredibly severe concussion.
Alexandra's concussion and connection to the arts led to the formulation of The Blue Project Inc. in the fall of 2023. The Blue Project integrates neuroscience and the arts by spreading awareness about traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and how the arts aid in healing them. Since founding The Blue Project, Alex has lobbied on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. with the Brain Injury Association of America, Inc. for the reauthorization of the traumatic brain injury act, spread awareness about the importance of concussion prevention and treatment, and will be serving on the University of Florida's advisory board for the development of the Brain Injury State Plan in Florida. Alex also created The Blue Project Podcast in affiliation with her nonprofit in order to enlighten those on the psychological mindset to overcoming adversity, defining one's dreams, and the work necessary to accomplish those dreams as well as share the stories of TBI survivors, those in the arts, and more.
The Blue Project is not Alex's first experience with nonprofit organizations. In fact, at the age of 16, Alex incorporated a small initiative she started when she was 8 called Peace Love Leotards (PLL) into Peace Love Leotards Inc. The purpose of PLL is to bridge the socioeconomic gap in the performing arts by providing dancewear to underprivileged dancers. Through PLL, Alex has been able to reach thousands of dancers worldwide and create a global ambassador program. She successfully funded the efforts of the organization through partnerships with global dancewear brands, designing original merchandise, and garnering grants. Alexandra's work with Peace Love Leotards has been featured in several magazines, podcasts, newspapers, and TV segments around the world.
In addition to the work with her nonprofit organizations, Alex serves as the Chapter Foundation Ambassador for the University of South Florida's Epsilon Lambda chapter of Alpha Delta Pi. She also works as a dance teacher and choreographer as a way to continue her relationship with dance and instill a love for the art form in the next generation of dancers.