Conversations with Toya Robinson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Toya Robinson.

Hi Toya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began my pageantry journey at 8 and completely fell in love with them. I even qualified for the national competition my second year of competing by winning the talent competition. Unfortunately due to my parents divorce and financial difficulties growing up, my pageant career was put on halt but I always yearned to get back on stage. Never giving up on that dream, I signed myself up for my first pageant as an adult at 21 and it’s safe to say that the love is still the same as before. Now I use my platform to inspire others who have gone through financial hardship and have had to miss out on opportunities due to them that they can still be successful in life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth ride, coming back into pageants after taking so many years off was intimidating. Competing against women who had been consistently competing for years affected my confidence. In addition, a lot of pageant girls have a team in addition to financial support, which is a challenge for me as I am a one person team besides some financial support from my parents but I enjoy being hands on with all of the aspects. The biggest struggle was getting out of my head, most of the women I competed with were in college or had graduated and since I wasn’t in the place in life, I felt less qualified.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My 9-5 is a studio manager at Orangetheory Fitness Detroit, so I’m helping people change their lives daily. I love this job because I get to help people feel good about themselves and celebrate their wins along their fitness journey. While juggling my 9-5 I compete in pageants while spreading volunteering for different organizations in Detroit and at Friends of Detroit Animal Care Control. I’m most proud of taking what seemed like a setback and turning it into my strive for success and not accepting defeat. What sets me apart from others is my resilience and optimism, seeing the glass as half full and taking roadblocks as an opportunity to grow.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see the pageant industry becoming more assessable for all. Growing up in the inner city, it wasn’t common for other little girls in my area to compete in pageants and I think it’s a missed opportunity because they helped build my confidence and shape me into who I am today. I feel like every girl show be able to experience at least one pageant in their life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Missmichiganusinternational