Who will walk the runway during New York Fashion Week and win $20,000? You decide.
Daysi Maldonado
Must be in the top 10 in their group to advance to the next round.
Voting for this round ends on August 7, 2026 at 9:00 PM EDT
About Daysi Maldonado
Age 29, female residing in Los Angeles, CA. I enjoy crocheting clothing, Fashion, and Content Creator. Starting undergrad in the fall at Mount Saint Mary's University. Pursuing my master's as a Physician Assistant with a minor in Acting.
Learn More About Daysi Maldonado
What makes you the Next Runway Star?
I enjoy pushing myself to new opportunities. As someone who is covered in tattoos, I hope we can break the stigma that Tattoos=Bad. Tattoos for years have been a way for people to express who they are and their beliefs. My tattoos are a reminder of how much I have continued to persevere in my life. To be the Next Runway star would be to represent South Central LA and its community. This opportunity would be representing everything I love and enjoy. Thank you.
What would this once in a lifetime experience mean to you and why?
This once in a lifetime experience could be the door that opens to more opportunities! I will no longer just sick back and allow life to pass me by. I will use this platform as a way to get my feet in the water. Doing things that take us out of our comfort zone in a safe way will always bring new opportunities to view life. It isn't the money that catches my attention, it is the ability to gain voters with the size of followers I have. That would be my greatest award as someone who is just starting off social media. Daysimaldonado.creator@gmail.com I would love to collab !
What are you most proud of about yourself or what have you overcome and why?
I'm proud for how far I've come for myself and my children. Like many I ended up in an abusive relationship. I was able to break free in 2020. It started when my son was first born in 2017. I knew I wanted to pursue a career now that I was growing my family. I decided to pursue a medical assistant degree at American Career College. This fueled my passion to become a Physician Assistant. However my partner at the time began to be abusive. Which lead to many fails and years of doubt.. After 9 years I finally graduated with my Associates of Science in Natural Science and Liberal arts. I begin my premed journey at Mount Saint Mary's University this fall. I'm proud of myself for not giving up. It took years before I could see the sacrifices I was making. My children and I finally live alone and we continue to enjoy life together. A quote that best fits my journey is "If you judge a fishes ability to climb a tree, it would spend its entire life believing it is stupid".
What would you do with the $20,000 cash prize?
As silly as it may sound, my children would really want for me to purchase a car. Unfortunately as a sole provider for our home, utilities and other bills, I haven't been able to afford a car. If I were to win I would make my kids proud. They would be excited their mother won a competition and was able to get us a car. A car is useful because my kids have expressed interests in extracurricular activities. However it's impossible without proper transportation.
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