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National Queen & Legal Reform Advocate: Julianna Andrasi

 


Julianna Andrasi is the reigning Miss Fresh Face USA 2021. She is currently working toward completing her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She lives in Michigan where she works as a corrections officer in a county jail. She is enthusiastic about raising awareness about many issues such as mental health and the protection of the environment. However, she is most passionate about teaching others about wrongful convictions in the United States. In May of 2021, she published her first book, “Convict or Convenient,” which sheds light on America’s justice system and explains how innocent individuals become incarcerated so easily. Aside from being a new author, Julianna also expresses her creativity through her artwork. In her free time, she can be found painting, sketching, or experimenting with whatever new craft has caught her attention for the week. Julianna discovered her love of helping people when she was young. As a teenager, she started volunteering at a local retirement home for residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. When she grew to be of age, she got a job working for the same retirement home. She worked there until she moved downstate to attend college. While in college, she began volunteering at a middle school, tutoring kids who were at risk of, or already on the path of entering a life of crime. The students there loved her. Julianna would reward students who reached their monthly goals or who were able to keep their grades up by taking them to see plays, movies, or out to eat. Now, especially during Covid times, she has been looking for other ways to help her community. In December of 2021, she started a donation drive in her local community to collect items for people in Kentucky and the surrounding states who lost their homes to tornados. At the end of the donation drive, she drove all of the items from Michigan to Kentucky.

What do you do and why do you do it?
I am a corrections officer and an advocate for individuals who have been wrongfully convicted. I think it is an important topic and I do not believe a country as modern as the United States has any reasonable explanation as to why we put innocent Americans behind bars.



How does what you do benefit others?
I am an advocate for those who have been wrongfully incarcerated. My book, “Convict or Convenient,” helps to bring more awareness of the issue to people who may not know much about the topic. The more people that are invested in learning about the injustices, the more people will be willing to come together to make a change in the justice system.

Describe your career journey and how it led to where you are now.
Growing up, I dreamed of becoming an officer. When I was 18, I moved away from my family to attend college and obtain my degree in criminal justice. During college, I attended the corrections academy where I became certified to be a corrections officer. After completion of the academy, I was hired to work at the jail that I currently work in. Because of my petite figure, I have had to deal with some struggles that I felt held me back. However, if things hadn’t happened the way that they did, I may not be where I am today. I am grateful for everyone who doubted my abilities because they only pushed me to try harder.



Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
In five years, I see myself continuing my career as a corrections officer while also continuing to raise awareness on the issue of wrongful convictions. I have always seen myself working in law enforcement and I would like to continue to further my career in that aspect.

Who is your favorite superhero and why? Do you relate to them?
Pepper Potts is my favorite “non-traditional” superhero because she began as a passive character. Over time, she grew into a more dominant role by asserting herself and proving her intelligence to those that doubted her. As a woman working as a corrections officer, I have also had to tap into my more dominant side and prove myself to people around me.



If you could have one superpower to help you further your purpose, what would it be and why? How would you use it?
If I could have one superpower to help further my purpose, I would choose the ability to clone myself. I struggle with the idea that there is not enough time in the day to fulfill everything I would like to. If I had a duplicate of myself, I could accomplish double the work in the same amount of time and I could complete my goals much faster.


Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juli.andraji/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianna.andrasi
Convict or Convenient: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0955DGVS8