WASHINGTON, DC - 19 Aug, 2016 - Raquel Riley Thomas is the face of many woman. She is a Director, Pageant Queen, Speaker and Activist. She is the Owner of An Officer and Gentlewoman, LLC, which has subsidiaries: Mrs. Pennsylvania America Pageant and the Mrs. District of Columbia America Pageant. Both are preliminary pageants to Mrs. Americaand Mrs. World. She is also Mrs. America 2011 (1st RU) and Mrs. Maryland America 2010.

Riley Thomas wanted to merge her life into one photo. She came up with an idea and ran it across to a friend, renowed photographer Derek Blanks (Bravo, Real Housewives of Atlanta).

After a few meetings Riley Thomas brought her beauty experts to the photoshot of a lifetime. RileyThomas flew down to Atalnta and worked with Blanks for 8 hours. The final results were astonishing. One half of the picture shows Riley Thomas in her former miltary uniform, camoufalge on her face and saluting towards the camera. The other half of the photo shows her in glamourous makeup, a shimmery pageant gown with jewels to match.

Riley Thomas is a decorated military veteran, having served nine years in the U.S. Army (5-years Enlisted, 4-years Officer). She was honorably discharged as an Ordnance Captain in May 2002.Within months she was signed with Elite Models (Atlanta) and Ford Models (New York). The 5";9” commercial model soon graced luxury lifestyle ads for 5-star restaurants, private planes, resorts, and yacht companies. She was the cover model of an international ad for the Coca-Cola brand. Her hair is featured on two major hair product boxes and she is the face of Unilever "Beautifully" product's campaign in stores throughout the country.

At the same time Riley Thomas was a model, she was a professional photographer. She became the first African-America woman to photograph Jet magazines centerfolds for nine years (2000-2009).

In June 2010, Riley Thomas added another success on her resume: Pageant Queen. She won the title of Mrs. Maryland America 2010 and then in September 2010, she competed against 50 state delegates, winning the title of Mrs. America (1st RU) 2011.

In September 2011, Riley Thomas started her Veteran-Owned Company, An Officer and Gentlewoman LLC, (AOAGW) and made history when she bought the rights to Mrs. DC America. On Dec 17, 2015, she made history again when she bought the rights to Mrs. Pennsylvania America. She is the first and only African-America to own two pageants within the Mrs. America organization.

Riley Thomas is committed to her community through service and philanthropy. She is a member of: Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Military Officers Association of America, Association of United States Army and Women in Media. She recently became involved in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in honor of her Army-veteran mother who unfortunately took her own life in March 2013. As a military Veteran, Riley Thomas makes it a point to give a portion of pageant proceeds to military-focused charities such as Luke";s Wingsand Vetsports.

Riley Thomas'' accomplishments have been noted in both her military and civilian career. In the Army, she was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (2x) and the Army Achievement Medal (3x). For her commitment to fighting for military Veteran's rights, Raquel was selected as the ''Veteran of the Year" 2011, by Women Veteran";s Rock. Riley Thomas was also titled a ''Leader of the Future,” by Ebony Magazine, Marquis ''Who";s Who of America,” (5 consecutive years), and Washington Business Journal ''People on the Move.”She was recently inducted into the Library of Congress under the "Veterans History Project" where her military history is now stored in video and pictures.

Riley Thomas spends her downtime reading books and watching action movies with her attorney husband and 4 children.

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Media Contact
Company Name: An Officer and Gentlewoman, LLC
Contact Person: Raquel Riley Thomas
Email:
Phone: 202-374-8488
Country: United States
Website: http://www.aoagwllc.com/