Miss Colorado USA

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Jessi Kalambayi, Miss Colorado USA is first generation Congolese-American who moved to Colorado in 2016. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Africana Studies at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and is currently pursuing a Master's in International Studies with a concentration in Migration at the University of Denver.

Jessi’s passion for refugees and migrants stems from her own lived experience living both in South Africa and the United States, witnessing the challenges migrants navigating legal systems, whilst facing barriers including language proficiency, education access, and employment opportunities. With her multicultural background, Jessi is a program manager for the Ready for American Hospitality program which is a collaboration between the University of Denver and the African Community Center, where she supports refugees to rebuild with essential job and life skills She also advocates for equitable hiring practices to ensure refugees can find meaningful employment. By chasing her dreams, she is exemplifying the idea that the “American dream” is not out of reach to them. Through her life and work, Jessi continually shows that dedication can overcome adversity.

When she’s not using her multilingual background to support refugees or interpreting at her local church. She models, and travels the world, enjoying different foods and seeing the many monuments of the world.

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