Ingrid: I know you are from Alabama. Do you have any goals/thoughts on impacting your home state as well as Tennessee?
Kalilah: Of course, being a role model is very important I think. Inspiring children, especially young girls, is important to me. I’ve always worked with children. I have a special place in my heart for them and always will. Just being an inspiration to people who are striving to accomplish goals in life and being someone that others can look to and say, “If she can do it certainly I can do it!” is important. I wasn’t always the smartest person in class. I wasn’t always the greatest person at everything. However, perseverance is probably the one thing that will get you through anything and help you achieve any goal you want, as it has for me. As long as you stick to it and you make sure you believe in yourself regardless of what others say around you, you can do whatever you want to do. That is the most important thing I can contribute. The reason I do so much with mentoring is because my life was changed by people mentoring me. I didn’t always think it was possible to be a doctor. I didn’t always think it was possible to do great things as a black woman. Society has had a tendency to dictate that negative teaching, especially towards African Americans and that’s sad to me. It so not true, and I think it’s important that there are people in positions of influence to tell young people and show them African Americans in positions of influence. I have learned to use it as motivation and strength to accomplish the things I want to accomplish and want to encourage others to do the same.

Ingrid: What was the first thing that went through your mind when you were crowned? When you were announced as the winner?
Kalilah: Honestly, I said, “What, me”? Ok let me just hurry up before they change their minds. I think they really said me. I was thinking wow, and after a second it turned into, “WOW that is a whole lot of responsibility that has just been given to me that quickly. My life has changed and now I am responsible—which is what I would have done anyway. The thought of doing good things and being a good influence, especially with children is remarkable to me. To be given a chance to make a difference in this way is amazing. I felt so blessed to be given this opportunity to make a change and I knew at that moment this is what God set me up for. Nobody but God! I was supposed to be there. I was supposed to win. That’s all I can give it to, because everybody was phenomenal. Every woman that was there deserved to win—every one of them. It was just God decided, that it was for me this time.

Ingrid: What is one way that your life has changed personally since winning—in addition to the obvious?
Kalilah: I honestly don’t think that anything has changed personally. I still called the same people when I got back. I still talk to my mom. I still talk to everybody else. I still have the same relationships I had when I left—before I was Miss Black USA. If you know me, you know that I don’t change. I had accomplished things before this. It doesn’t change me. It might change the things I have to do now. For example, I might have more appointments and appearances. I feel like nothing has really changed for me personally yet.

Ingrid: You have a blank sheet of paper to express yourself “free style.” What would you say to the world so we can feel the real essence of you?
Kalilah: I would say God is love. God is all knowing. God is truth. The truth will set you free. The world is waiting to see what you can offer. It’s not about what the world can do for you. It’s about what you can do for the world. I just want to help people. There is this driving force that I can’t explain. I can’t describe what it is or exactly how it makes me feel, but I know I am supposed to be helping people. I haven’t figured out exactly how, but I know that I am going to help people and really that’s my life goal. Other than to have a family of my own and be happy, I want to help people. I really want to use this opportunity to make a difference. I want show a little kid that you can do what you want to do and nothing can stop you. My mother came from the projects and she made a difference for me to not have to grow up in the same environment as she did. She is such an inspiration to me. I didn’t have to live in the projects, but we weren’t well off by any means when I was going up. To see her and what she has accomplished and what she does coming from the background she has, I am so inspired by my mother. She was raised by her father as a single parent. It’s just amazing to me and I know just looking at her that anybody can do what they want.

Keep an eye out for this amazing woman of character and strength. Her reign has just begun and I am encouraged by her genuine spirit that she will work hard to make a difference in the lives of so many—especially young people. It was truly a blessing to me to interview a young woman of color with such a big heart, dreams and desire to make a positive impact on the world. Encouraging her and others like her is one of the reasons I do what I do to be a light in the world. Thank you for allowing me to share this experience with you.