Life & Work with Jory Manning of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jory Manning.

Hi Jory, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was younger, I was always the “artsy” (and to be honest, nerdy) kid. I was interested in pageants, but I never thought that I was that type of girl. Last fall, I reminisced about this to my mom, and weeks later, she sent me a Facebook post about the Miss Black Ohio America Pageant. Following that, I attended a coaching clinic with some of the MBOA ambassadors, where I learned to piece together an introduction, walk, and answer projection questions. The year ended, and going into this spring, I hadn’t heard back from an MBOA organizers. My mom then reached out to someone who she thought would have information, and they then forwarded her to Fanchon Page, the Miss Black Ohio America director. At this point I was on a time crunch– I had about 6 weeks to prepare for a pageant that I should have been working on for months. I attended all of the online and in-person rehearsals, practiced on my own for half an hour daily, and put my best foot forward for every aspect of the pageant. On the day of, I was overcome with nerves, but alas persevered. When I heard my name at the crowning, it was such a surreal experience, one that I’m not sure anything could top. Now, I am excited to begin this new chapter as a state Miss.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say that my road has definitely been far smoother than most, though I have had a few struggles. The most prevalent one was definitely showcasing my talents publicly, as it felt raw and exposing; another has been getting comfortable with have everyone’s eyes on me, alongside networking, introducing myself to people who I typically wouldn’t cross paths with.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am currently a part time employee at my mom’s law firm, Christian Family Law, and an aspiring influencer. I’ve made content in the past, and I’d like to start again with my new platform. Through social media, I would like to gain exposure, ambassadorships, and maybe even some makeup modeling.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
One extra thing that I would like to share with the readers is that you should pursue your dreams despite how far fetched they seem. I never imagined that I would be a pageant queen, especially on the state level, and this never would have happened if I hadn’t voiced my interests and worked toward my goals. I believe that most people can accomplish far more than they limit themselves to, and that you are your own biggest enemy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: missjorymanning
• Facebook: Miss Jory Manning
• Youtube: jory_manning