MRS. UNIVERSE® 2020 – 2021
Shannon Ford
Florida · Advocate · Champion
A graduate of Florida International University with a B.A. in Psychology, Shannon Ford is a former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader, Ambassador, and current Regional Human Resources Manager for an International CPA firm — a woman whose life story is a testament to resilience, grace, and purpose.
Shannon's mission is that everyone has access to fertility treatment benefits and the opportunity to bring home healthy babies.
Diagnosed in 2009, Shannon became a national spokesperson, sharing her story across two national magazine covers to raise awareness about this autoimmune condition.
After personally navigating unexplained infertility and IVF, Shannon now advocates fiercely so that every couple has access to the fertility care they deserve.
As an Ambassador, Shannon supports this foundation that provides financial grants twice a year to couples seeking help with the cost of IVF treatments.
From Mrs. Florida to Mrs. United States to Mrs. Universe®, Shannon has always been both humbled and proud to represent married women everywhere.
Shannon's pageant legacy spans decades and multiple titles. She competed twice as Mrs. Florida, placed in the Top Six at Mrs. America, and made history as the first Mrs. Florida to win the Mrs. United States title. The coveted Mrs. Universe® crown became her first international title — a pinnacle moment in a career defined by purpose and service.
Ms. Universe® 2020-2021
Hajera Naeem
Texas · Model · Advocate
By day a public relations and operations consultant for a hedge fund company, Hajera Naeem's alter ego is a highly successful Pakistani print and runway model — a woman of two worlds whose story is one of resilience, courage, and relentless advocacy.
Hajera Naeem's mission as Ms. Universe® was and is to change the world — even if it has to be one person at a time.
Having come from a strict culture herself, Hajera is a fierce advocate for women stepping out of their comfort zones and becoming more active participants in their societies.
Proud of the many positive changes taking place in her birth country, Hajera continues to champion progress for women while acknowledging there is much more work to be done globally.
A tireless spokesperson, fundraiser, organizer, recruiter, and volunteer — Hajera has been there, done that, and brings lived experience to every cause she champions.
Traveling across Pakistan, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, Hajera has built a life that bridges cultures and inspires women on every continent to dream bigger.
Hajera's pageant legacy spans national and international stages across two countries. She represented Pakistan as well as her residences in the United States at competitions for many years, consistently bringing grace, poise, and purpose to every stage. The coveted Ms. Universe® title stands as the crowning achievement of a journey defined by ambition, advocacy, and an unshakeable belief in the power of women.
Ms. Universe® 2021-2022
Nikki Johnson-Huston
Philadelphia · Attorney · Advocate
Nikki Johnson-Huston, Esq. is a tax attorney in Philadelphia with her own firm, The Law Office of Nikki Johnson-Huston LLC. A woman who overcame poverty and homelessness to become a powerhouse attorney, speaker, and advocate — her story is one of extraordinary resilience and purpose.
Nikki overcame a life of poverty and homelessness to become a successful attorney — and now she shares that story to light the path for others.
A determined advocate for the homeless, Nikki serves as an in-demand inspirational speaker sharing her own story of homelessness and triumph with organizations across the country.
Nikki launched Donafy, a micro-philanthropy iPhone app connecting citizens to nearby nonprofits providing emergency housing, food, mental health care, job training, and legal services.
Through her mentoring program and speaking panels, Nikki opens doors for high-school students from underserved communities who aspire to careers in law.
A former member of the Philadelphia Bar Association Board of Governors and Board of Trustees for Project H.O.M.E., Nikki uses every platform to inspire change and champion equity.
Nikki has been featured across major national media outlets including Fox News "The O'Reilly Factor", Fox & Friends, MSNBC, AL Jazeera America, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Daily News, WHYY "Radio Times with Marti Moss-Coane," KYW News Radio 1060AM, and local CBS, NBC, and ABC stations.
Mrs. Universe® 2021-2022
Tori Hope Petersen
Minnesota · Author · Speaker · Advocate
Tori Hope Petersen is a bestselling author, international speaker, and former foster youth who won the 2021 Mrs. Universe® Pageant. She held a partial reign from July 21, 2021 through September 30, 2021, relinquishing her title due to personal reasons. She was — and remains — a lovely queen whose impact continues to inspire.
Tori Hope Petersen aims to support former foster youth, human trafficking survivors, and abuse survivors — facilitating healing and inspiring hope, one story at a time.
As a former foster youth herself, Tori advocates passionately for foster care reform, working to improve the system for the thousands of children who rely on it every day.
Tori founded this nonprofit to provide support and healing for former foster youth, human trafficking survivors, and abuse survivors — rooted in love and community.
Tori openly shares about her Christian faith and its transformative role in her life, encouraging others to find hope, purpose, and healing through their own struggles.
Through Instagram and other platforms, Tori reaches a global audience as a content creator — encouraging followers to find meaning in their stories and live with intentional purpose.
Tori Hope Petersen is a bestselling author and international speaker whose story of overcoming abuse, foster care, and a challenging upbringing has moved audiences around the world. Through her nonprofit, her books, her speaking engagements, and her presence on social media, Tori continues to champion healing, hope, and faith — reminding every person who hears her that their story is not over. We wish her blessings beyond measure in all her future endeavors.
Mrs. Universe® 2021-2022
Lynelle DeRoo Marcos
California · Dental Health Advocate · Entrepreneur · Speaker
Lynelle DeRoo Marcos is a wife, health professional, entrepreneur, and devoted mom to two furry rescues. Crowned Mrs. Universe® 2021-2022, she is the founder, author, and speaker behind Brush for Life, Inc. — a mission-driven company dedicated to improving dental and overall health worldwide. She crowned her successor in July 2022, having served a full and impactful reign.
Her dreams are big… but her vision is always bigger. Lynelle DeRoo Marcos is changing the way the world brushes — one smile, one continent, one life at a time.
Lynelle's trademarked oral care techniques go beyond what is taught in dental universities, offering lifestyle modification recommendations to reduce disease and slow aging through better oral hygiene.
Her enthusiasm for oral health as a springboard to whole-body health has been shared across three oceans and three continents — and she is just getting started.
Lynelle annually volunteers as a clinician and speaker at free clinic events across the United States and abroad, including a landmark trip to Kenya, Africa during her reign.
A longtime advocate for rescue animals, Lynelle is a former certified Delta Society pet therapy handler and mom to Kobe, a Cane Corso, and Maya, a beautiful Calico — both rescues.
Lynelle DeRoo Marcos has devoted nearly her entire life to the dental field — and to the belief that better oral health transforms lives. Through Brush for Life, Inc., her books, international speaking engagements, and tireless volunteer work, she continues to spread a message of prevention, empowerment, and whole-body wellness to audiences around the world.
Recognized as VIP Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women, Lynelle's experience and network provide the resources to influence and impact many lives. She was — and always will be — both honored and humbled to represent and inspire women all over the world.
Mrs. Universe International® 2023 – 2024
Chakara White Cardillo
Massachusetts · Educator · Advocate · Innovator
A warm-hearted wife, mother, realtor, engineering teacher, public speaker, and pro-am ballroom competition dancer — Chakara White Cardillo is an advocate for repurposing waste, a champion of STEM education, and a force for social change in her community and beyond.
Chakara's mission is to foster a healthy environment for the next generation — repurposing, reducing, and reinventing the world we leave behind.
A committed advocate for the Reduce, Reuse, and Repurpose initiatives, Chakara works to lower carbon footprints and build a greener future for families and communities.
Dedicated to building bridges toward STEM careers for young people, filling workforce gaps and igniting curiosity in the sciences through innovative classroom engagement.
Active in Wag for Tags, Food Bank 4U, Toys for Tots, Bark Happy, and Bell of the Ball, among others — weaving a fabric of support through charitable involvement year-round.
From classroom to crown, Chakara is honored to stand as a voice for married women everywhere — continuing to provide a blueprint for change in a fast-moving world.
Chakara's accomplishments span the classroom and the crown. A nationally recognized STEM educator, she has earned awards from Raytheon Technologies and the PLTW program, along with formal recognition from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Her students' innovations — from assistive toys for children with cerebral palsy to Samsung-sponsored community tech solutions — speak to a teacher who leads by inspiring. The title of Mrs. Universe International® 2023–2024 is the pinnacle of a life defined by purpose, service, and an unrelenting drive to make the world better than she found it.
Ms. Universe International® 2023 – 2024
Denae Ball
Indiana · Healer · Advocate · Survivor
A multi-talented mom, actor, dancer, model, entrepreneur, and healer — Denae Ball carries within her a lifetime of resilience, faith, and purpose. Her sons are her greatest achievements, her gifted hands her greatest calling, and her story a beacon for all who are still finding their way through the dark.
Denae's mission is to be a voice of hope — helping others overcome life's pitfalls and begin the deep healing process, while maintaining healthy, joyful lives.
A survivor herself, Denae advocates fiercely for those still in the storm — offering hope, resources, and the living proof that healing and wholeness are possible on the other side.
Through Angel Touch Therapy & Consulting, LLC, Denae provides faith-based, hands-on healing to clients from all walks of life — empowering them to navigate their own healing journeys.
Having fully recovered from addiction herself, Denae uses her story without shame — shining a light on the path toward freedom for those who feel trapped by their circumstances.
Proud and humbled to carry the Ms. Universe International® title, Denae stands as a testament to the strength, beauty, and resilience of women across the world.
Denae Ball's achievements span decades and disciplines. A Presidential fitness honoree, NFL cheerleader alumni, Toastmasters medalist, and the first recipient of The Freedom Award 2021 — her accolades reflect a life lived fully and purposefully. Her entertainment credits span theater, commercials, infomercials, reality TV, talk shows, educational videos, and short films. Her dance training covers modern, jazz, hip-hop, African, liturgical praise, and cheer. As a healer, she has touched the lives of professional athletes and celebrities alike through her practice at Angel Touch Therapy & Consulting, LLC. She is currently completing her first book, Been There. Done That… But There's Got to Be More! — an autobiography that promises to be as powerful as the woman writing it.
Ms. Universe® 2023 – 2024
Paula Moussa
Texas · Lebanon · Entrepreneur · Advocate
A Lebanese native, educated mother, influencer, entrepreneur, and community advocate — Paula Moussa arrived in America with two young children, no English, and an unbreakable determination to thrive. Her story is one of courage, reinvention, and the quiet power of always presenting your best self.
Paula's mission is to open doors for women from all cultures — championing domestic violence awareness and empowering every woman to see herself as far more than the world has told her she is.
Paula advocates especially for women from cultures where abuse is normalized and silence is expected — using her title and platform to reach those who have been conditioned to believe they have no recourse.
Drawing from her own journey, Paula provides language interpretation, English tutoring, confidence coaching, and cultural navigation to young women arriving in the United States without a safety net.
A strong advocate for this powerful organization, Paula supports their long-term programs — camping, sports, counseling, and friendship-building — designed to equip abused children with the social, emotional, and physical skills to carry them into adulthood.
Honored to carry the Ms. Universe® title, Paula sees it as a key that unlocks doors for her advocacy work — standing as proof that resilience, grace, and courage can take a woman anywhere in the world.
Paula Moussa's achievements are rooted in reinvention. She arrived in America without the English language and built a life that today includes regional industry leadership, a major social media following, fashion brand ambassadorship, and meaningful community advocacy. Fluent in multiple languages, she turned her own experience of cultural displacement into a service for others — offering interpretation, tutoring, and coaching to female expats navigating the same unfamiliar terrain she once crossed. As Ms. Universe® 2023–2024, her title is not an endpoint but an instrument — one she is using with purpose, grace, and an unshakable belief in the dignity of every woman.
Mrs. Universe® 2024 – 2026
Debbie Bourgeois Bomford
Florida · Nurse Practitioner · Child Advocate · Champion
Happily married for 34 years, mother of two remarkable adults, nurse practitioner, and tireless child advocate — Debbie Bourgeois Bomford has built a life defined by love, faith, and an unwavering commitment to giving children every chance at the life they deserve.
"It's all about the kids and what we can do for them to give them a chance at life."
Since 2009, Debbie has been a dedicated supporter of this faith-based organization — providing housing, mentoring, education, and a genuine sense of family to children who have nowhere else to turn.
A passionate fundraiser and advocate since 2013, Debbie supports St. Jude's mission to ensure no family ever receives a bill for treatment, housing, or food while their child fights for their life.
As a nurse practitioner, Debbie teaches patients and foster children alike about the life-changing power of balanced diet, physical fitness, and a positive outlook — investing in health as the most important decision one can make.
Both proud and humbled to carry the Mrs. Universe® title, Debbie stands as a testament to devotion, resilience, and the enduring beauty of a life built on love, faith, and purpose.
Debbie Bourgeois Bomford's greatest achievements are the ones that can't be measured in trophies. A 34-year marriage built on love and laughter. Two fulfilled, principled children. A teenager fostered through difficult years. Fifteen years of advocacy with Place of Hope and over a decade of fundraising for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — including walking alongside her own son through his Stage IV cancer diagnosis and celebrating more than eleven years of his remission. As a nurse practitioner, she has guided countless patients toward healthier, more purposeful lives. The title of Mrs. Universe® 2024–2026 is the natural extension of a woman who has always believed that life is unique, precious, and meant to be lived fully — with love, forgiveness, and dedication to what matters most.
Ms. Universe® 2024 – 2026
Annastasia Mason
USA · Queen Bee of Positivity · Lady Annastasia
Mother, model, entrepreneur, knighted lady, and the self-proclaimed — and widely confirmed — Queen Bee of Positivity. Annastasia Mason has spent a lifetime refusing to be beaten down, building herself into a globally recognized force for empowerment, beauty, and healing across more than 30 countries.
Annastasia's mission is to break cycles, redefine norms, and spread love and kindness worldwide — empowering future generations to rise from ashes into their full, extraordinary selves.
A longtime ambassador and advocate, Annastasia uses her global platform to shine a light on domestic violence — reaching women in diverse cultures and empowering survivors to reclaim their identity and worth.
Her signature motivational course inspires healing and growth for women navigating pain, trauma, and transition — helping them transform their most difficult chapters into the foundation of something extraordinary.
Founded by Annastasia, this global community exists to inspire, uplift, and celebrate women at every stage of life — creating a sisterhood that refuses to let any woman face her battles alone.
Named a Global Ambassador for a girls' educational book being distributed into schools across Pakistan — ensuring the next generation of young women has access to knowledge, confidence, and possibility.