"Do not limit yourself in any way!"

Meredith Dean
Jul 22, 2015
5 min read

Tori Cowen wears several hats as a Florida State grad, dancer, Miss Florida, mentor, entrepreneur, and 3rd runner up at Miss America! This woman inspires women (and men) of all ages through her endeavors.

1. What's your story? What makes you unique?

I think I have been busy since I was 5 years old. I still remember sitting on the couch watching the Miss America pageant with my mom and telling her I would compete someday. I was determined to put it lightly and I thank God my parents were fully supportive. So I decided I was going to do whatever it took and I started dancing. My competitive side grew when I started competing at the age of 6 and won my first national at the age of 9. Alongside this I also competed in the Cinderella Scholarship program that was modeled after the Miss America pageant. Dance and pageants were my life growing up and I know I wouldn't be the woman I am today without the self discipline I learned at an early age. I went on to be the first girl to win 3 International titles, earned over $30,000 dollars in scholarship money and almost completely paid for college by the age of 15. But of course I didn't stop there. I also modeled for multiple magazine companies and was fortunate enough to be featured on several covers. Then, it was off to Florida State University in 2011. I was thrilled when I had the honor of being on the prestigious dance team, The Golden Girls. I was in such awe of the team and to be able to dance and cheer at all the football and basketball games was such an incredible experience. In 2014 my ultimate dream came true and I won the title of Miss Florida. I went on to compete for the title of Miss America and placed 3rd runner up as well as preliminary swimsuit winner. That experience within itself was life changing. My year as Miss Florida is hard to put into words because it was such a defining year in my life. I traveled 3 to 5 thousand miles a month, I visited countless hospitals and schools, was the state Ambassador for the Everglades Foundation, and also when on a speaking tour. Through the Miss America Organization I won over $37000 dollars in scholarship money and I am currently studying abroad in London.

2. What motivates you?

My motivation is drawn from my desire to make a difference. I always say wake up with the mentality to bless someone that day.

One Chance, One Choice is a mentoring program that I started when I was 15 years old. My mission is to empower young girls to make the right decisions as well as provide them with a one-on-one relationship of support, guidance, and trust. Another Foundation I feel passionate about is America's Everglades. As Miss Florida I acted as their state ambassador for the year and was able to go on a state wide speaking tour promoting their educational curriculum. Being a part of something so vital to society made me feel as if I was involved in something much larger than myself. Without the Everglades 8 million Floridans would be out of drinking water and the economy would severely diminish. Preservation is crucial and I loved being a part of the fight.

3. Who is a hero of yours?

Jean Addison. Growing up as a dancer Mrs. Jean was the woman who took me under her wing, inspired me, pushed me, and believed in me fully. I know I would not be the woman I am today without her love, guidance, and motivation.

4. What's your future plan? Your goals?

My plans after returning from London are to graduate next spring, continually grow my Beachbody Training business, then work for a medical device sales company. But I also like to keep an open mind, so we will see what God has in store!

5. If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be?

You can do anything that you put your mind to so don't limit yourself in any way. My favorite verse is, "you can do all things through Christ" and I fully believe that is how we should live our lives.

Dreams are shaped by ideals and families shape the beliefs we grasp so strongly. My parents told me that I should dream "big", always aspire to do my best and that I shouldn't let obstacles stand in the way of my goals. They taught me to speak the truth, have compassion and respect for others, and to be independent in my thinking. Growing up I had the perfect life with all of the love and support that my family could provide. Imagine my surprise when I found out that my parents were going to divorce and that this perfect family would no longer exist. I then learned that families are not defined by their living together but rather the relationships that they have with one another. Through this change in circumstances, I have emerged much stronger, confident and more relatable and plan to use my experiences to inspire and mentor young girls to be successful in their lives one step at a time.

6. What is something you feel strongly about (a cause, belief, etc.)?

When I was 15 I started my platform, One Chance, One Choice, Inc. It is a nonprofit organization, focused on helping youth and teens make the right decisions, commit to a healthy lifestyle and to create a positive reputation from an early age. We need to teach the next generation that they are responsible for their own lives. My objective is to show pre-teens and teens that if they take the time to set and internalize goals, they are more likely to make healthy choices and less likely to do something that they will later regret. In college I was able to greatly increase my reach through my mentoring partnership with the Dare to Dream Young Girls Network, Inc. Their mission is to educate, mentor, and empower young girls to dream big, believe the impossible and inspire girls to achieve all things with positive choices, through accountable decision making and strong educational and family values. I also became a volunteer with Girls Inc., an organization that encourages the next generation of young women to become responsible citizens who will effect positive change in their own communities and work environments.