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Goddest Jenkins – Advocate, Visionary Leader, and Champion for Inclusion
Goddest Jenkins is a dynamic force in advocacy, leadership, and empowerment. A proud survivor, community leader, and fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion, she is redefining what’s possible beyond physical limitations and societal expectations.
In 2008, Goddest’s life took a dramatic turn when she survived a devastating five-car collision that left her in a coma for seven months. As a result of the accident, she became legally blind. Rather than allowing her circumstances to define her, she emerged with a powerful new perspective—one that has shaped her life’s mission. Living by the mantra, “It took losing my physical sight to gain true vision,” Goddest has turned adversity into a platform for purpose.
Her journey of resilience extends beyond her accident. For two decades, Goddest endured domestic violence—a hidden battle she courageously fought even after losing her sight. This painful chapter ultimately led to the permanent loss of sight in her left eye, but it also revealed her extraordinary strength. Today, she speaks openly about surviving domestic violence, breaking the silence to empower others to seek safety and healing.
Her list of accomplishments is as groundbreaking as it is inspirational. In 2022, she made history by winning the Miss Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant, becoming a national symbol of strength and beauty beyond vision. In 2023, she broke another barrier by becoming the first-ever legally blind woman to serve as an official pageant director, leading the Miss Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant with compassion and bold leadership.
She went on to earn the title of Miss Black America Elegant Diva in 2023—the first legally blind African-American woman to receive it—and was crowned Miss Corporate America in 2024. In both 2023 and 2024, she was voted one of the Top Most Influential Women by 180 Life Celebrity Magazine.
Goddest holds two master’s degrees: one in Visual Rehabilitation from the University of Massachusetts, and another in Social Work with a specialization in Mental Health from Nova Southeastern University. Her global impact expanded in 2023 when she was appointed the U.S. Ambassador for the Blind and Visually Impaired by the United Nations. In this role, she has brought humanitarian aid and accessible education to communities in Cameroon, Liberia, and Uganda.
One of her greatest accomplishments to date is becoming the first-ever legally blind certified national CM3 Credible Messenger—a distinction that honors her commitment to youth mentorship and violence prevention. As a CM3 Credible Messenger, Goddest works to combat youth crime and gun violence by mentoring at-risk youth and providing hope through real-life transformation. She regularly visits juvenile detention centers and prisons, sharing her story and advocating for prevention before detention.
This work is deeply personal. Goddest grew up in an environment shaped by gang involvement and systemic incarceration. Her mother, father, and both brothers were all sentenced to life in prison—with her brothers receiving those sentences as juveniles. She tragically lost both her mother and one of her brothers while they were incarcerated. In their memory, she has dedicated her life to breaking the cycle—empowering youth and families to avoid the paths that led her own loved ones to incarceration. Through global collaboration with other mentors and organizations, she is on a mission to prevent families from experiencing the heartbreak that shaped her early life.
Goddest Jenkins is also a powerful motivational speaker, having traveled to more than 23 states and delivered over 80 inspirational speeches on stages including conferences, expos, college campuses, graduations, churches, and political forums—spreading her message of hope, healing, and possibility.
On October 10, 2023, the City of Orlando honored her with Goddest Jenkins Day in celebration of Blind Awareness Month. On September 13, 2025, Goddest Jenkins made history as the first-ever legally blind African-American woman to receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious recognition of her trailblazing advocacy and service.
She is the founder of Queens Raising Queens Inc., a nonprofit empowering women of all ages to rise in their purpose. As a domestic violence survivor and mental health advocate, Goddest Jenkins continues to prove that with faith the size of a mustard seed, anything is possible—and limitations are just stepping stones to greatness.
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