Detroit, Mich. - Meet Emma Seidel who, being Miss Wayne County 2019, is a poised representative of the Miss America Organization. She also happens to be Director of Constituent Relations and Legislative Aide for Rep. Samantha Steckloff and is set to compete for Miss Michigan in June.
After volunteering as a Campaign Intern for Steckloff in 2020, Seidel was asked to join her team in Lansing. She now works as a liaison between state agencies, actively pushes policy, and connects with stakeholders. Outside of communicating on behalf of Farmington Hills constituents, Seidel is an impressive advocate for young women.
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Seidel is the founder of “Woman Up!,” a youth empowerment organization with the mission of empowering young women and creating a space for them to be leaders.
Founded in 2017 and originally titled G.I.R.L.S. (Growth, Involvement, Respect, Leadership, Scholastics), the initiative takes a spin on “Man Up,” emphasizing that women can do anything that men can do.
“I created Woman Up! because I wanted to help young women find their voice,” Seidel said. “I felt there was a disparity in places that supposedly welcomed women and amplified women’s voices, so Woman Up! became an initiative that could help shape that void.”
The program has several functions including goal setting and hosting book drives to provide students with the resources they need to create in-home libraries.
“I believe that without wisdom, one cannot become a strong leader and the best way to learn is through reading.”
Seidel has connected with more than 10,000 students and has donated more than 5,000 books to schools across Michigan. The initiative also supports other local, women-focused organizations and throughout the month of May, Woman Up! is collecting donations for Alternatives for Girls.
“The organization aims to help homeless and high-risk young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy, and exploitation,” she said. “They seek to help young women explore and access resources and opportunities necessary to be safe and make positive changes in their lives.”
Woman Up! has also partnered with Ink Courage, a woman-owned business to create products for the cause with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Alternatives for Girls. Available products include buttons, stickers, tattoos, and shirts.
To support the cause with a fiscal donation, visit this link, select the drop-down option, and select “Donation to Alternatives for Girls.”
To follow Emma’s journey to Miss Michigan and support her community initiatives, follow @misswaynecounty on Instagram.