El Paso teen turns bullying into confidence: Shines on Times Square billboard
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- An inspiring journey of overcoming adversity has led an El Paso teen to one of the brightest stages in the world—Times Square.
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Mya Sanchez, once a victim of relentless bullying, has transformed her life through modeling and giving back to her community.
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In 7th grade, Mya was bullied by an adult, which caused her to lose confidence and friends who joined in on the bullying.
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“I lost a lot of my confidence,” Mya said. “No confidence at all, I was always, you know, hunched down.”
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Her mother, Donna Sanchez, who modeled as a youth, enrolled Mya in modeling to help rebuild her self-esteem.
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What started as a way to regain confidence blossomed into something bigger.
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Mya not only found her voice on the stage but also discovered a way to help others.
Through her newfound confidence, Mya started two initiatives: LOVE M.Y.A.—an organization that empowers young people through modeling—and Borderland Cinderella, which provides dresses for girls who can’t afford them.
Both programs aim to build self-confidence in youth facing their own challenges.
Mya’s modeling journey has been filled with memorable moments, including competing in numerous pageants.
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But one of her biggest achievements came when her image appeared on a digital billboard in Times Square—a dream she had as a child.
“Seeing myself on there... my mom and I waited about 30 minutes for my picture to come up,” Mya said, reflecting on the moment with disbelief.
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Mya continues to grow in her journey, with plans to compete in more pageants and return to New York City in February to model again.