Hazely Lopez: Beauty Queen Turned Life Coach

Think of beauty pageants, and your mind may zoom to images of little girls aged with makeup, overbearing stage moms living vicariously through their daughters or fake beauty that plays well on camera.

None of those even remotely describe Indian Rocks resident, Hazely Lopez, a beauty pageant winner turned coach and business owner.

That's not to imply you can’t see the beauty glowing within Lopez.

Dressed in a gray sweater, designer jeans, high heels and minimal makeup, Lopez exuded more than physical beauty.

The 5-foot-4-inch tall brunette arrived to the interview from a self-confidence class she teaches at local schools. Her genuine care and passion to help others goes beyond her pageant successes.

Lopez started competing at age fifteen . She earned first-runner up in Miss Puerto Rico Teen, third-runner up in Miss Teen Globe and two first place titles, Miss Puerto Rico Teen Globe and Miss Guaynabo Teen.

Ironically, Lopez’s venture into the pageantry world wasn’t her idea. Older sister Ramery funded the tomboy teen’s training for her first competition in Miss Puerto Rico Teen.

“In Puerto Rico, pageants are a huge deal. The girls win so much: money, clothes, makeup,” Lopez said.

Lopez didn’t put all her energy into the training. With the pageant looming, her sister handed her an ultimatum.

“She told me, ‘If you want it, commit to it. If you don’t want it, quit. Don’t make me keep throwing money away if you’re not going to try’,” Lopez said.

“She knew I didn’t want to quit, but she had to get my attention.”

Lopez dedicated herself to the remainder of the training. Her delayed efforts did earn a second place win, but more importantly, the experience imprinted her life, personally and professionally.

“My sister touched my life. She’s my role model,” she said.

She credits beauty pageants with teaching important skills.

“Pageants create leaders. You learn self-control, public speaking skills, positive image and self-confidence,” Lopez explained.

Lopez didn't struggle with self-confidence. When asked the pageant question about her future goals, she knew the answer immediately.

“I wanted to own my own business. I didn’t know in what, but at fifteen, I knew I wanted to be a business owner,” Lopez said.

Lopez’s tenacity to follow her dreams started early.

As a high school honors student, she marketed her sister’s direct mail order business, Ramery Professional Promotions. In college, she pursued her natural interests and earned a marketing degree.

Lopez’s first job search landed her a part-time job as a marketing demonstrator. After her first week, Lopez was offered a prestigious position as a marketing trainer and event coordinator.

“I made an impression. I showed up in a suit [for the part-time job]. It’s about image and how to carry yourself,” she said.

The career seemed like a dream-come-true.

“I loved the job. I had the perfect income, car allowance, corporate credit card…but I wanted more."

The simmering idea of being a business owner roared to the surface. She transformed that vague teenage dream into a corporation.

The three-year-old Hazely Corporation offers pageant coaching and produces two pageants: USA Petite and Florida Petite. Hazely Academy is the umbrella for Hazely Academy of Refinement and Modeling and Interviewing and Coaching. Lopez is the sole owner and employee.

“I’m about quality control. I don’t want to hire someone who could dilute my message. They may not have the same passion,” Lopez said.

Her beauty pageants are designed for female contestants 5-feet-5 inches in height and shorter. Lopez wanted to provide the experience to women left out of traditional pageants because of their height.

“It’s unfair to compete with someone so much taller than you,” she said.

Her determination to make a name for her pageants caught the attention of another pageant owner, the famous Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe Organization.

To reduce potential confusion between their organizations, they mutually agreed Lopez’s pageants would be named Florida Petite (producing Florida Petite Teen, Miss and Ms.) and USA Petite (producing USA Petite Teen, Miss, Ms. and Mrs.).

In March 2011, Pinellas County schools discovered her etiquette and self-confidence courses. Lopez was asked to teach them in eleven schools. Despite juggling her own business, life as a wife and mother  of two young sons, she jumped at the opportunity.

Her morning and afternoon classes help kids learn about confidence, image and preparation for the future.  Lopez reaches out to teens suffering from low self-esteem, poor confidence and no direction.

“I teach them about self-care…it’s about their image, how they see themselves and how others perceive them,” Lopez quipped.

As teens build their self-esteem, they are encouraged to find their passion and make goals for their future.

“I have a spice, that motivation to look forward,” Lopez said.

“My heart breaks when I hear someone say they have nothing. They don’t look forward. But it can’t just break my heart. I ask, ‘What can we do about it?’”

Lopez does a lot. At Hazely Academy, she teaches people of all ages and genders that confidence and image are crucial to attaining personal and professional goals.

 She works with people who need to boost their confidence, image or public speaking skills. She offers workplace seminars to inspire employees to greater success. She helps adults prepare for college, military or career interviews.

Lopez has countless stories of motivating others: an older teen who reclaimed his passion and applied for college; a bullied, young girl who now models and competes in pageants; and a teen who took charge of her health and lost weight over a year’s time.

Leaning forward in her chair, Lopez explained the importance of motivating others.

“People don’t realize they could be that person … they could touch someone else’s life,” Lopez said.

“I’m so blessed. My job is so rewarding. It’s my life. If I can inspire someone else, why shouldn’t I?”

For more information on Hazely Academy, call 727-519-8727. For information on the upcoming July 2011 Petite Pageants, visit the USA Petite Pageant website.