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CROWNS MAGAZINED R. M ARCH ET T E RICH ARD SON -SM IT H

CROWNS MAGAZINECROWNS MAGAZINEM s. Elite Petite M ar ylan d USA PL AT FORM -W OM EN EM POW ERM EN TA combination of beauty and brains, Dr. Marchet te Richardson-Smith was born in Det roit, Michigan. Her mother ensured she t ook academia seriously. Dr. Richardson-Smit h completed high school in three years and began working on her bachelor ?s degree in psychology, at the University of Det roit . She earned her m ast er?s degree in child and family studies (at California St at e University, Los Angeles), her Ph.D. in social welfare (at Yeshiva University), and a post doct oral MBA (at Pace University). Dr. Richardson-Smit h?s father passed away when she was nine. She was a latchkey child who watched her mother work full-tim e while keeping her in privat e school and ensuring she could attend ballet , tap, and swim classes. She understands t he need to support and empower women.A John Casablancas agent scout ed Dr. Richardson-Smit h while she compet ed in a local beauty contest. She signed wit h Casablancas and the Marci Haney Talent Agency. Modeling allowed her t o work at club openings, conventions, t rade shows, and exposit ions. She has walked t he runway for Essence Magazine and appeared in More Magazine and Sophisticat es Black Hair Magazine. Christian Dior selected her as a Beaut y Ambassador, and she appeared on the cover of Bella Petit e Magazine three t imes. She cust omarily chooses work offered by brands that support women. February 2023, Dr. Richardson-Smit h walked in New York Fashion Week for Randhawa Brand, a label dedicated to inspiring and uplifting women. She will represent Randhawa again in Sept ember. For the past two decades, she donated 20% of t he money she has earned from modeling t o Wom en for Women International. This organizat ion provides support t o female survivors of war. In April, she volunt arily did print layouts for The Phoenix and Bit ter Grace, founded by female entrepreneurs; t he boutiques sell sustainable apparel and accessories for ladies. Bit ter Grace also offers t ea service and facilit at es mont hly female-inspired get -toget hers.Dr. Richardson-Smith is a cert ified life coach. Post-pandem ic, she not iced that substance abuse, depression, anxiet y, and dom estic violence among wom en increased; job losses, loneliness, and death rates among friends and family accelerated these variables. To aid ladies dealing wit h em otional traum a and addiction, she offered free life coaching t o t hose in com promised financial situat ions. She facilitat es periodic webinars on grief and healing. She sends care packages via Soldiers? Angels t o current ly deployed females and routinely visits the Virginia Veterans Hospit al. She volunteers at Shabach Minist ries Emergency Resource Center in Landover, MD. Most of the cent er ?s client s are female, often the head of household. Shabach provides them wit h food, clot hing, and home furnishings. Now a Potomac, Maryland resident, Dr. Richardson Smith is compet ing in pageants, an excellent way to meet like-minded ladies and to gain exposure for her platform (Women?s Empowerment ).She won the tit le Mrs. Potomac Int ernat ional 2022 and t he District of Colum bia America Am bassador 2022 sash. Current ly, she is Ms. Elit e Petite Maryland USA. She is preparing for t he Elit e Pet ite Nationals, to be held in August. Sheis the President of the Montgomery Count y Chapter of Mocha Moms; t he organization provides financial, em otional, and social support to women and their fam ilies. If you want to schedule an appointm ent wit h her, you can reach her at ht tps://www.drmarchette.com /.Written by Dr. Marchet te Richardson-Smith

CROWNS MAGAZINED R. M ARCH ET T E RICH ARD SON -SM IT H