Carol Anne-Marie Gist

Carole Anne-Marie Gist is living history. As the first Black woman crowned Miss USA (1990), Carole credits athletics and pageantry with allowing her to rise above the difficult circumstances of her youth. As a speaker, author, wellness, fitness, and pageant coach, she helps thousands yearly take daily steps towards becoming the best version of themselves. Carole continues to push herself, discovering new limits as an entrepreneur, triathlete, print, and runway model. Recognized by the Michigan Chronicle as a Woman of Excellence, her impact is global and local. Carole's volunteerism with domestic violence prevention, job re-entry, food distribution, housing insecurity organizations and mentoring young teen girls in two local organizations is a daily testimony of life lessons learned. Carole earned a master’s in kinesiology and a master’s in sports administration from Wayne State University, where she works as a health & wellness coordinator. Carole hopes to add doctor to her list of titles in the future with research in EMS/FMS wearable tech for immobile/bedridden patients that would hopefully produce an increase in positive outcomes while reducing the negative effects.