ABOUT ALEXANDRA
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Brain Injury Advocate
2× Nonprofit Founder
Pre-Med Scholar
Miss Manatee 2026
Motivational Speaker
Former Ballerina
Brain Injury Advocate
When Alex suffered a traumatic brain injury in November 2021, she didn't just lose her ballet career — she lost her words. Damage to her frontal lobe and Broca's area meant that for months, she struggled to access language that had always come naturally. The rehabilitation was grueling, slow, and invisible to the world around her.
What she built from that experience is The Blue Project: Integrating Neuroscience and the Arts Inc. — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to brain injury education, legislative advocacy, fostering resilience, and promoting the healing power of creative expression. She has lobbied Congress three times, been appointed to Florida's Brain Injury Advisory Board, and become the youngest member of the BIAA's Speaker's Bureau.
3x
Lobbied Congress in Washington D.C.
1,115+
Individuals reached nationwide through brain injury education and resilience presentations
May 7
Official Concussion Awareness Day — Palmetto Mayor proclamation
#1
Amazon New Release — Colorful Curtain Call coloring book
Pre-Med Neuroscience Scholar
Alex's brain injury didn't just inspire The Blue Project — it set the entire direction of her academic and professional future. The post-concussive and neuropsychological rehabilitation she underwent showed her, in real time, the extraordinary resilience of the human brain. She became determined to dedicate her career to it.
Today she is a Pre-Medical Psychology student at USF's Judy Genshaft Honors College, maintaining a 3.93 GPA on the Dean's List. She is a member of Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity and has served as the Director of Philanthropy for Alpha Delta Pi — raising $53,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. She was named a "Boundless Bull" by USF and awarded the Seal of USF by President Rhea Law.
Miss Manatee 2026
Alex has been part of the Miss America Organization since 2011, first entering as a Sunshine Princess at age 8 and continuing for 5 years. Throughout her time competing, she has held one teen title (2 years due to Covid) and five miss titles.
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Miss Manatee 2026 (Current Title)
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Miss Tampa 2025
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3rd Runner Up
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Preliminary Talent Award Winner
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Preliminary Evening Gown Award Winner
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Women in Healthcare Award Winner
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Community Service Initiative Finalist
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Miss Winter Haven 2024
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Top 10 Semi Finalist
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Women in STEAM Award Winner
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Miss Gainesville 2023
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Top 10 Semi Finalist
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Miss Emerald Coast 2022
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Top 15 Semi Finalist
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Preliminary Talent Award Winner
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Rising Star Award Winner
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Tyson Classical Performing Arts Award Winner
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Miss Gainesville's Outstanding Teen 2020/2021
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Top 10 Semi Finalist
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Community Service Initiative Award Finalist
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Real Talk Award Winner
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Ballerina
Dance is where everything began. Born with dysplasia, Alex was placed in ballet at age 2½ on her podiatrist's recommendation. By 14, she had moved to New York City alone to train at the School of American Ballet — the feeder school for NYC Ballet at Lincoln Center. She performed in SAB's Workshop, Choregraphic Workshop, and Lecture Demonstrations; NYC Ballet's Sleeping Beauty; and appeared in Disney+ On Pointe.
Peace Love Leotards
At just 8 years old, alongside ballet, she founded Peace Love Leotards Inc. — which grew to collect and donate nearly $100,000 in dancewear to dancers in the United States, Africa, Malaysia, and beyond. In 2025, Alex intentionally liquidated PLL into Ballet Bridges, founded by Nily Samara, ensuring the mission lives on under new leadership.
To donate dancewear or get involved, follow @balletbridges.
TIMELINE
2010
Performed first solo
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2012
Attended Rock School for Dance Education’s Summer Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Won Florida Cinderella’s Miniature Miss
Top 10 at the International Cinderella Scholarship Pageant and the Overall Miniature Miss Talent Winner
2014
Began training pre-professionally at Next Generation Ballet in Tampa, Florida (35hr/week)
2016
Top 12 Classical and Contemporary at Youth America Grand Prix Regionals in Tampa, Florida
Top 12 Contemporary and 5th Place Classical at the American Dance Competition, International Ballet Competition (ADC IBC) Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida
Accepted to and attended the School of American Ballet’s (SAB) Summer Course in New York City on a Full Merit Scholarship
2019
Performed as a Student Performer in New York City Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty
Performed in SAB’s Workshop Performances
Attended Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Summer Intensive in Seattle, Washington
2021
President’s Volunteer Service Award Recipient
Named Savvy Girl Magazine’s Top 25 Women Under 25
Graduated, with honors, from the Professional Children’s School in New York City
Placed Top 10 at Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen 2021
Attended Miami City Ballet’s Summer Intensive
Began as an undergraduate student at Columbia University
Performed in SAB’s Student Choreographic Workshop
Sustained a severe concussion (traumatic brain injury)
2023
Won Miss Gainesville
Lobbied on Capitol Hill in Tallahassee for Arts Education
Placed Top 10 at Miss Florida
Transferred to the University of South Florida’s Judy Genshaft Honors College, Majoring in Psychology on a Pre-Medical Track
Established The Blue Project: Integrating Neuroscience and the Arts Inc.
Became a member of the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi
2025
Began year as Alpha Delta Pi’s Director of Philanthropy, raising $53,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay
Won Miss Tampa and placed Top 5 at Miss Florida
Community Service Initiative Award Finalist, and the Women in Healthcare Award Winner
Featured Speaker at Dallas College’s School of Health Sciences
Published Colorful Curtain Call: A Performing Arts Coloring Book for Kids which became an Amazon #1 Best Seller
Became a member of Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity. Recognized as “Boundless Bull’ by the University of South Florida
Awarded the Seal of USF by President Rhea Law for recognition of my work
2003
Born on Memorial Day
2005
I began dancing at age 2 1/2
Was born with dysplasia in hips and feet so her podiatrist recommended ballet for strength
2011
Competed in the Cinderella Scholarship Program for the 1st time
Started as a Sunshine Princess in the Miss Florida Organization
Launched Peace Love Leotards as a Small Initiative
National Title Winner - Petite Miss VIP Dance and Interview Winner
2013
Attended American Ballet Theater’s Young Dancer Workshop in New York City
2015
Top 12 Contemporary and 3rd Place Classical at Youth America Grand Prix Regionals in Tampa, Florida
4th Runner Up, America’s Junior Dancer of the Year at American Dance Awards Nationals and Ballet Class Winner
Starred as Clara in Next Generation Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Straz Center
2017
Awarded Top 12 Contemporary and 3rd Place Classical at Youth America Grand Prix Regionals in Tampa, Florida
Competed at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York City
Attended to School of American Ballet’s Summer Intensive in NYC on Full Merit Scholarship
Attended Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz Intensive in NYC
Moved to NYC by myself to train at the School of American Ballet, the feeder school for the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center
2020
Performed in SAB’s Lecture Demonstrations for students across New York City
Incorporated Peace Love Leotards into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (featured in 20+ Media Outlets; donated $50,000+ in dancewear
Launched a global ambassador program; partnered with 9 global dancewear brands; began an online virtual dance training curriculum)
Won Miss Gainesville’s Teen 2020/2021
Attended Miami City Ballet’s Summer Intensive
Named Role Model by Inspiring Teens Magazine
Speaker on Equip Her’s Young Difference Makers Panel
Featured in Pointe Magazine and Dance Spirit Magazine
On Pointe documentary on Disney+ about SAB (and the students currently attending) was released
2022
Won Miss Emerald Coast
Named Preliminary Talent Winner at Miss Florida and placed Top 15
Awarded the Tyson Award for Classical Performing Artists and the Rising Star Award
2024
Began year as Alpha Delta Pi’s Chapter Foundation Ambassador
Won Miss Winter Haven
Lobbied in Washington D.C. with Brain Injury Florida
Became a member of Florida’s Brain Injury Advisory Board (responsible for creating Florida’s Brain Injury Action Plan)
Became the youngest member of the Brain Injury Association of America’s Speaker’s Bureau
Placed Top 10 at Miss Florida; Awarded the Women in STEAM Award
2026
Won Miss Manatee
Lobbied in Washington D.C. with Brain Injury Florida; Garnered a Proclamation from Palmetto Mayor, Dan West Naming May 7th Concussion Awareness Day
Launched Brain Injury Volunteer Corp Ambassador Program in collaboration with UF’s BRAIN Center. Launched The Blue Bag Project
Created a merchandise line entitled “The Resilience Club”
Spoke at Brain Injury Florida’s Educational Conference. Guest at National Neurotrauma Society Conference
