The first thing you notice about Amber Corbett '22 is her intelligence and outgoing personality. The recent Magna Cum Laude Pace graduate, who as a student was involved in Advertising Club, landed a respected position at Peacock/NBC as a Marketing Coordinator in the Ad Sales Department. Although she was always very smart, as a child she suffered from intense shyness. When she was 12 years old, Amber’s mother made a decision that would change her life forever. She enrolled Amber in her first pageant. This began an incredible journey culminating in Amber being the first African American to represent the United States in the Miss Intercontinental Pageant in Egypt.
The Miss Intercontinental Pageant began in 1971 and has showcased beautiful, graceful women from a variety of different cultures. By traveling to Egypt, Amber plans to be a “voice and advocate for all women.” Amber intends to uplift fellow women in corporate America, especially in the entertainment industry. Miss Intercontinental gives her the opportunity to push stories from a perspective we don’t often have in the mainstream. It is of the utmost importance that people of color are not only represented on camera, but also behind the camera. As producers, writers, directors, and even in ad sales. To compete on this level is a dream fulfilled. As a kid Amber spoke very little but was extremely bright. She always got good grades but would never participate in class. To boost confidence, she started competing in pageants. With the help of her mom, she’d practice her personal introduction over and over to get it just right for the competition. The experience shaped her into the woman she is today. She built confidence, began to speak in class, and joined a community that has given her unforgettable encounters around the world. Amber comes from a long line of trailblazing African American women. Her maternal grandmother grew up in the segregated south where there was very little opportunity for black women. Despite these societal setbacks, Amber’s grandmother become one of the first African American women to serve as regional manager at Xerox. Amber’s mother continued the legacy of excellence and had a career singing back-up for the likes of Aretha Franklin then transitioned to a career as a leader in the filed of Human Resources. She is now the head of HR at a large biotech firm. Amber attributes her success in part to the incredible role models she had growing up and fully intends to be that role model for other women and girls.