Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandii Brown.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story has never been about following a straight line.
I was born and raised in Chicago, and my journey began long before I ever wore a crown. I became a mother at 18 while navigating college as a first-generation, nontraditional student. My path through higher education was not conventional. There were pauses, responsibilities, and moments when I had to figure things out while still showing up for the people who depended on me. But I kept going. I earned my associate degree, two bachelor’s degrees in African American Studies and Human Development and Family Sciences, and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I later earned a second master’s degree in Restorative Justice and am now pursuing my doctorate in Higher Education Administration.
As a now, licensed professional counselor, my work has allowed me to support individuals navigating trauma, depression, identity, and other challenges that are not always visible to the people around them. My experiences in higher education and mental health have also given me a firsthand look at the gaps between the resources people need and the systems designed to serve them. Those experiences continue to shape my work as a therapist, college professor, speaker, and advocate.
I wanted to be part of conversations that lead to meaningful change, particularly for communities whose experiences are often misunderstood or overlooked. That commitment remains central to who I am.
Through my brand, The Relatable Counselor™, I have been able to bring mental health education, advocacy, and conversations about healing into spaces where people may not otherwise encounter them. And now through my pageant platform, “More Than Fine”, it reflects a deeper and personal message: people can be accomplished, dependable, and seemingly okay while privately struggling. I want us to become better at recognizing the person behind the performance and creating environments where people feel safe enough to ask for help before they reach a breaking point.
Today, I have the honor of serving as Miss Multicultural Tennessee USA, a title I hold through 2027. As an Afro-Latina woman and all that I carry, I understand the importance of representation that goes beyond appearance. I want people to see that you do not have to fit into one box to make an impact. You can honor every part of your identity while still making room for others to be seen.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. And honestly, I think there is a misconception that when someone is educated, accomplished, or seemingly successful, the road must have been easier for them. But my journey has taught me the opposite.
I think one of my greatest challenges has been learning how to pursue big goals without waiting for life to become perfect first. I earned my degrees, built my career in mental health, entered higher education as an educator, and continued expanding my work even while managing the realities of being a mother and a woman with responsibilities beyond herself. None of those accomplishments happened in isolation from life’s challenges. I had to learn to keep moving without having every answer or every resource I needed.
We’ve been impressed with Miss Multicultural USA, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
This pageant, which is apart of The Miss Multicultural World Pageant, their system provides a platform for celebrating cultural identity, diversity, leadership, and representation through pageantry. What makes this system particularly meaningful is its connection between national representation and an international stage, bringing together women whose backgrounds and experiences reflect different parts of the world.
Miss Multicultural USA serves as a national platform recognizing women from diverse cultural backgrounds throughout the United States. Myself and other women have the opportunity to represent their states and communities while sharing the cultures, traditions, and experiences that have shaped their identities. The national pageant emphasizes diversity, cultural pride, leadership, and community impact, with the national titleholder advancing to represent the United States at Miss Multicultural World.
Its competition areas include fitness, evening gown, social impact initiatives, personal platforms, and People’s Choice. These components give contestants opportunities to demonstrate their preparation, communication, personal presentation, and commitment to causes that matter to them. Together, they reflect a pageant experience that considers the individual behind the title, not simply her performance on stage.
As Miss Multicultural Tennessee USA, I am honored to represent Tennessee. Holding this title allows me to be part of a broader celebration of cultural identity and representation while bringing my own perspective.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as having the freedom to make decisions about my life based on my vision, not my circumstances. For a long time, I had to figure things out while being responsible for so many things at once. That taught me that success is not always about getting to a particular place. Sometimes, it is about having enough control over your life to decide where you want to go next. I am ambitious, and I am not going to pretend that titles, degrees, professional recognition, and opportunities do not matter to me. They do. I work hard for what I want, and I take pride in being able to walk into rooms that my younger self may never have imagined entering. But I also understand the difference between looking successful and building a life that actually works for you. I do not want to spend my life collecting accomplishments while neglecting the person who has to live with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.therelatablecounselor.com
- Instagram: @missmulticulturaltn and @therelatablecounselor
