Alexes Niekamp

 The world that I come from has shown me how to be strong, driven, self-assured and to make the most of every moment. I love to go to the gym, act in theatre and explore the beautiful state that we live in. My dream to continue to grow as a strong woman leader is not out of reach and through hard work and determination, I will continue to change the world. Owning a dance studio since the age of nineteen has taught me to make the most of every moment, big or small, and enjoy the journey. My Nana taught me to carry this with me every day and I strive to share her message and legacy with others. Inspiration comes from within. It is important for women to want to succeed and to be the best they can be. I like to surround myself with strong, driven women who inspire, challenge and support each other. Every day I want to answer the question “What more can I do to impact my community?” and I want others to do the same. 

Within my community I have emphasized investing in our youth through teaching dance in local schools and the boys and girls club, sponsoring local charities, schools, and nonprofits, set up a scholarship program through my dance studio to make it possible for anyone to dance, guest spoke in schools (Granite Mountain Middle School, Franklin Phonetic School, Prescott High School) to inspire our youth to find ways to serve our community better, teamed up with Arizona Resin Teaching Services to collect art supplies to help keep children growing through the arts in quarantine, did live Zoom dance classes during quarantine for students, and I am currently in the works of creating a mentorship program for the dancers at my studio who want to further their career in dance teaching. As Miss Yavapai County 2020, I have a goal to lead by example to inspire others to answer this question and become more involved in our local communities, state and nation. The world is full of distractions on what a woman should be, instead of helping women find their voice and passion. Each of us have a unique set of talents that should be encouraged, and the service industry is an incredible platform in which to do this. As more women discover their path, we will build a strong culture of women reaching their full potential.