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Shine On Success
Shine on Success is a dynamic, story-driven podcast where extraordinary entrepreneurs, visionary leaders, and resilient change-makers share their journeys to success, revealing both the challenges and the strategies that led to their breakthroughs. Each episode offers a unique blend of inspiring personal stories, practical business insights, and actionable advice, allowing our guests to connect with an engaged, growth-oriented audience ready to be motivated and uplifted. By joining us, you’ll not only have the opportunity to showcase your expertise and inspire listeners but also to be part of a powerful platform that celebrates ambition, innovation, and the courage to turn dreams into reality.
Shine On Success
The Confidence Code: Secrets from a Global Icon with Ms. World Traveler
What if the secret to confidence, resilience, and success wasn’t just about talent—but about stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing failure, and answering your true calling? In this electrifying episode of Shine On Success, we sit down with the extraordinary Kerry, aka Ms. World Traveler—a former Miss Idaho USA, world-renowned coach, fashion visionary, and global media powerhouse who has impacted women’s lives across 130+ countries.
Carrie unpacks the decades of lessons that shaped her journey—from devastating business failures to triumphant reinventions—and shares the mindset shifts that helped her thrive. She reveals the ultimate confidence hack, the real truth behind pageantry, and how embracing creativity helped her navigate grief. Plus, we dive into the art of reinvention, the power of passion-driven work, and the one piece of advice that will change how you see success forever.
If you’re ready to step into your power, embrace the unknown, and turn obstacles into opportunities, this episode is for you.
Connect with Kerry here:
Website: https://msworldtraveler.com/
Youtube: Ms. World Traveler
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerrymsworldtraveler/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KerryMsWorldTraveler/
Connect with Dionne Malush
- Instagram: @dionnerealtyonepgh
- LinkedIN: /in/dionnemalush
- Website: www.dionnemalush.com
- Facebook: /dmalush
- LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/dionnemalush
What if the key to confidence, success and influence could be learned, and what if someone who's mastered it over decades could share the secrets? Welcome back to Shine on Success, where we uncover the mindsets, strategies and stories behind high achievers who redefine what's possible Today. I'm beyond thrilled to introduce a woman whose impact on the pageant, fashion and media industry spans over 40 years. She's a former Miss Idaho USA, a multi-award winning coach. A and media industry spans over 40 years. She's a former Miss Idaho USA, a multi-award winning coach, a fashion and jewelry designer with a global eye and an internationally recognized media talent. With over 130 countries traveled, she brings a world-class perspective on style, confidence and success. Please welcome Keri, a true visionary, mentor and global influencer. Hi Keri, how are you doing today? Just great, that was such a lovely intro.
Speaker 2:Wow, I didn't even know some of those things about myself.
Speaker 1:Oh well, hey, if you didn't know, I'll teach you a few things too. You never know what you're going to find out today. It's very nice to meet you and I was really excited about this yesterday. I was looking forward to today and thinking, wow, how interesting. The Miss World Traveler. I love that. Let's start at the beginning. I always like to ask this what is one thing you want people to know about you and your journey? That it's taken a long, long time.
Speaker 2:There really is no jump to the top right. Every once in a while you hear a story about somebody that first thing they did they were really successful. But most of us, I think, have to try and keep trying and keep pivoting and learn resilience and learn endurance before we find where we were supposed to be.
Speaker 1:So does that mean, through your travels, that you've had some adversity along the way?
Speaker 2:Well, yes, some adversity but say more in business, that I've had a number of businesses fail. But you know, as I look back over my journey over these 40 years, I see that each one of those pieces had something to teach me and some element that I needed to mature. This is actually kind of funny. I had a 16 year old pageant girl. This was a couple of years ago and she wanted to know how do I get mature? What's the what's?
Speaker 1:the short answer how do?
Speaker 2:I jump to the front of the line. There is no jumping to the front of the line, it's just years of making mistakes, learning from them, having some victories, learning from that as well, and then just keep building.
Speaker 1:And then here we are today don't you think like they're just seasons, right? You go through different seasons to get to where you are and I've had a failed business that was devastating. I hurt, I didn't. It was a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety, a lot of sadness, because I love doing it, you know.
Speaker 2:So I learned right did you go through a grieving process when you absolutely I did yeah, because I did too, and I think that's something you you don a grieving process when you Absolutely I did Yep, because I did too, and I think that's something you don't think about. When that, okay, you have to go through this emotional process of letting it go and it's like grieving.
Speaker 1:It definitely was like grieving, for sure, and I loved it, and still to this day it's been since 2004. I think about it often and realize what if I would have stayed in that industry and not changed, how would it have been? But then I wouldn't have the great success stories that I have today and all of the huge obstacles that I have to face seemingly on a daily basis. But you know, I think that's God prepares me for all the hard stuff, because he knows that. He knows I'm going to pick up the pieces and get back up, so let's talk a little bit about it so you've been a powerhouse in the pageant world since 1981.
Speaker 1:What has kept you passionate about that for over 40 years?
Speaker 2:Well, for one it was a calling, a ministry that felt the specific calling and I resisted it for a little while until I just realized there's no resisting when you get the call. You've got to do it because it just sits. It sits in your spirit and until you finally go yes, I will do it. And then, once I did, I realized that God had been preparing me for years for that. I just didn't know it. And it's also an addiction. People ask what is addictive about it. One is the sisterhood, the women that you meet, and that iron sharpens iron right. So you meet amazing women and you are spurred on and encouraged in your own journey by watching them in their journey.
Speaker 1:I love that. That is so awesome. Thank you for sharing that, because I'm so enamored by the whole idea of that. You've been doing this for such a long time and you still love it. You can see it, you can hear it in your voice. It's beautiful 'm. I love that and I'm very creative. So you know, I have that creative calling, as you have that calling right. So I'm always creating all the time, and how I got through grief is by creating, and that's what helps me to get through really yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm more creative than I've ever been in my life, and I think that's just part of having going through grief.
Speaker 2:Deanna interesting that you say that, because I found that as well that the older I got, the more it's like the closet door inside opened and there was this creative world that was there. It was always part of me, but it had been behind the closed door. And when you finally sort of open it up and go, wow, we're not only interested in this, I have an act for it, and then it builds upon itself. One thing leads to another and another, and you're just like okay, yeah, there is a lot of creativity in me and I get a lot of fulfillment from it.
Speaker 1:I love that. So tell me about being Miss Idaho, usa. How amazing was that experience.
Speaker 2:It was like being a movie star for a year and I was 21 at the time. It was an incredible growth experience A lot of public speaking and being in front of people, and it ended up shaping very much who I am today. I like always overdressed for church, but that harkens back to my Miss Idaho days that I always wanted to be ready, in case someone knew that I was Miss Idaho, I did want them to go.
Speaker 2:I always wanted to be ready to go. Yes, here I am, and so that has shaped a lot of who I am, and also that sort of professionalism in front of people, that confidence that you can walk into a room and hold your own. That stems from my year as Miss Idaho, and so a little at the time did I know that it was going to be something that stuck with me all the rest of my life?
Speaker 1:So you coach and mentor young women still to this day, correct? Yes, like fashion, public speaking interviews. That's what you teach a lot about. So what is that big confidence tip that you can give to our listeners about that?
Speaker 2:To step outside of your comfort zone. That sounds so easy and yet so difficult. I like to tell this about pageant girls, because there's naysayers about the swimsuit competition and a lot of pageants don't have it, so sometimes it's not even an issue. But for those that do have it, think about this for a second Dionne If you can put on a swimsuit in heels and walk out on a stage where everyone else in the whole room is clothed and you are not, what's harder than that, really, when you think about it, if you can conquer that, you can conquer just about anything. You can walk into a job interview. You can get up in front of people and tell your story interview. You can get up in front of people and tell your story. There's just a lot of things that, once you have gotten out of your comfort zone and done it, it holds your confidence to say yeah, the next thing's not nearly as hard.
Speaker 1:I can't even fathom what you're saying, because I can at the beach or I'm just not that person. So to think about that thought is it's so fearful to most, and I've been. I've been working with the National Speakers Association here in Pittsburgh for the last year and I'm on the board of directors and I love it. I love learning how to be a better speaker. But speaking in a bathing suit no, that can't even be. A thing Like that would be so hard. I can't even tell you how that would affect me. Yes, so tell me this how have passions evolved over the years and where do you see them heading?
Speaker 2:Well, I'm not going to go yet to where do I see them heading? I want to talk about a little how it's evolved. We all know that when it started out it truly was a beauty pageant. There was really no element of your personality and your accomplishments. Well, now it's pretty much all based on that. In fact, those of us in the pageant industry kind of shy away from the word beauty pageant because all the young women are lovely, but really it's about your accomplishments and your voice. What do you want, what are you passionate about and what do you want to talk about and what do you want to accomplish during your year? And it's a year of service, so you are serving your community, you're serving your fellow man, so it isn't just about looking ready and taking pictures. So that's been quite an involvement over the years and those who aren't in the industry don't really understand that. They remember what they saw on TV and they don't get that. These women work hard and they have voice and they're passionate about serving their communities.
Speaker 1:That's amazing and I do love where it's heading, because I think that's a very important part of who we are as women. I think that stands out in the crowded space. So we'll get back to that other question about where we see them heading. But so how do you help young women stand out, not just in pageants but in life and business? So how do you take it from the pageant to their real life?
Speaker 2:But pageantry to me, has always been a microcosm of life. The things that you do to prepare for pageant prepare you for life. It's just a carrot dangling in front of you to motivate you to do it. You know we all would like to lose a few pounds, right? Well, if you know you're going to be in front of a group of people they're going to see you have patience to lose a few pounds. But that's just an example. We all want to be better speakers, like you were talking about helping people become better speakers. Well, pageantry is just a way to help you do that. If you want to get more stage presence, you want to get more confidence, pageantry is just a way to help you do that. So it truly is just the vehicle that helps, helps prepare you for life, and so really, those things. Once you have them, then it's the jumping off point for your whatever professional things, personal, social things that you want to accomplish afterwards.
Speaker 1:That makes a lot of sense. So what's a memorable transformation story from a client that still inspires you today?
Speaker 2:Oh boy, let me pick just one right.
Speaker 1:I don't care.
Speaker 2:Well, I had a girl who she's very spiritual and really understood that pageantry wasn't for a purpose for her. It was very much in her spirit and in her, you know, a calling for her.
Speaker 2:And she ended up not winning, and she went through this very deep depression over it and trying to help her work through that and watching her come to terms with that. It wasn't God's timing, but there was a purpose in it for her and that everything that you do, there is a purpose in it for her and that everything that you do, there is a purpose, there's something to learn from it, and that you can, you know, move on from something that seemed devastating at the time but that was for your good, to grow you as a person, to move you onto the next step. And then all of us you know this too that we look back and we say, oh, I realized why I had to go through that painful experience, right, Because I had to grow from it. And so to watch her go through that processing and becoming you know, coming to the point where she could say I understand, I get why I had to go through that, that was very encouraging to me. I'm sure it was.
Speaker 1:And I think that there's so many stories in that. I was just thinking about that on the way when I was, and I think that there's so many stories in that I was just thinking about that on the way when I was driving and I thought there's always something good. So today I wasn't having such a great day, so I have to look back and think what is that good in today that I need to learn? Because I could feel it. I could feel it in my skin. My cheeks were getting pins and needles and I can just feel the difference in me. And then I I thought I have this great podcast this afternoon and let's look at the bright side of that. And here you are. So it just it makes a lot of sense to me. So talk to me about fashion and jewelry design, because I love that. You do that. Are those earrings your fashion? Yeah, these are mine.
Speaker 2:Well, um, this is actually a great question because this is one of the things that was a failed business for me. I had my own fashion line and nothing sold. I also had a little earring. I love earrings, I wear earrings every day, it's kind of a big part of my branding and people often comment on them, and so I thought, well, I'll do a little earring business on Etsy and I only sold one pair and it was to a friend who wanted to support me. Nice friend, you have a nice friend. So, yes, I do it now as a freelance because I learned from that experience that it really wasn't supposed to be something full time. That I did. It's something that gives me great joy and I just give it away. I do all my design work for other people for free and I give earrings away to my pageant girls and love to design for them and them feel great about themselves that's the reward.
Speaker 1:I love they're beautiful and I can see why you love wearing them. I just can't stop looking at them. So, bell business, picked up the pieces, tell us about what you're doing now.
Speaker 2:Well, now, we're doing, ms World Traveler, and it. It came as kind of a scales off my eyes and like, oh, I always knew something was coming. For the last 20 odd years I knew I kept feeling that something big is coming. Something big is coming and I would pray about it and I'd ask God. You know, it's each new thing that the um, I had a tv show that also failed. Is that it? The fashion line, is that it? And I kept hearing not yet, but this is what I want you to do right now. And so, as I look back on all of those pieces, I had to go get the puzzle pieces in order to make the full picture. And now, as Ms World Traveler is going, all of those pieces, they're part of what I needed in order to do it now. If it were my timing, it would have been, you know, before I had gray hair and 25 pounds ago. Obviously that wasn't the right timing. I wasn't ready 20 years ago, ready.
Speaker 1:I feel that exact feeling that you have. I keep saying there's something so big. I know inside of me there's this million, multi-million dollar idea in my head. I know it's there, it's there, yes's there, yes.
Speaker 2:So well, my encouragement to you, dionne, is it will come, but you just might have to wait for it. It might not be the timing that you think it's going to be. And if it hasn't come yet. It just means that there's still pieces the cherry picking that you still need to get, so it will come in the right time.
Speaker 1:See, I just needed this call for that reason today, because I keep thinking about these ideas that I have and I know I know there's so many people that could use the help and I have the opportunity. You know, I've been in the real estate business for 21 years now and I've sold a lot of houses and now I actually own the brokerage and, yeah, so it's a big deal. But you know, I'm not where I want to be. I know that I go in every day thinking there's more, there's something else, and you know you just said it. You know it says it's coming. Maybe not yet, but it's coming. Just keep doing this every day, and I definitely do this stuff every day. I'm always doing things to enhance that idea. So let's talk about these hundred and thirty countries you've been to. Yeah. So let's talk about these 130 countries you've been to top destinations for fashion shopping and then after that, your favorite place of all.
Speaker 2:Well, I know it's kind of cliche, but paris is my favorite, my favorite place, and I had always had this dream, kind of a fantasy, that I wanted to go live in paris, live like a local, for three to six months. I couldn't, you know nobody can get away right for that long.
Speaker 2:So I carved out five weeks in 2023 and I rented an apartment, I went to the grocery store, made meals, I lived like a local, so I got to see so much more of it than I ever would have, because I went to neighborhoods that were touristy, just interesting places where local people shopped, and that was where I got to see interesting fashion and different artists making jewelry and all kinds of different things Again, that when you have five days you would never get to see because you're so busy seeing all of the big checking off your bucket list, and so that's my favorite for fashion and really overall, that's my favorite for fashion and really overall.
Speaker 2:But I just get back from a trip to Asia where I hit Cambodia, malaysia, indonesia, vietnam and Laos and the surprise favorite in those was Hanoi, vietnam. I didn't realize that was going to be my favorite, but there was just something about the energy and people just going and doing and lights and there was just a wonderful energy there and so just most recently that's my favorite, so how about your favorite place to eat?
Speaker 2:You know I am not a foodie. No, isn't that interesting? Because a lot of people, food is a very important part of their travel. It's not for me. I don't have a great taste and smell, and COVID took what I had left of it. Yeah, so I eat, but it's not a big part of my travel and so I'm not the right person to ask.
Speaker 1:Most people have some place like that they like to eat. I've only been mostly in the United States. I went to Canada and I just went to one of the destination places a few years back, and other than that I have not stepped foot out of the United States. I only know what's here. Do you want to? Is that something?
Speaker 2:that you want to do. I'd like to go to.
Speaker 1:Italy someday. I think it would be amazing to go to Italy. Oh, yes, that's one place I would like to go, just because that's where my grandfather came from and I love Italian food, so came from but a lot of italian food, so that was one italian to another, yeah, so what does ms world traveler do then? What is the actual work that you do?
Speaker 2:okay, well, we're all about promoting small business and trying to inspire women to trump. So, uh, we go somewhere and I give myself two days to shop the whole city and my niece is, uh, also my partner in this and she goes and does all of the background shoots. So we sort of divide and conquer and we're looking for our locally made items. Women, artists, designers, entrepreneurs you know people that are, uh, the local story. They might not be the the most important you know the big things, but they're, they're, they're there. This business is just like it's a foundation in America. It's a foundation everywhere, right, and supporting women in their journey is something that's really important to me, and so that's what we highlight on the show. We talk about a little history why should you go there? And then here's someone that you can be inspired by, that you can meet. When you go, you'll feel like you have a friend already there oh, I love that.
Speaker 1:That's so awesome. Thank you for sharing that. So let's talk about we. We behold on. You know what pageantry looks like in the future. You want to talk about that now but you'd like to gloss over that.
Speaker 2:But okay, um, well, we're in quite an era of change. Uh, there's been a number of controversies that have come up, and so things are in flux and it's kind of hard to tell where things are going to be going from here. I don't know if you followed any of the news, but but then quite a few big news stories on it and I have faith that it will settle the way that it's supposed to, but it's it's. It's very hard to have a crystal ball to know what's really going to be happening.
Speaker 2:The interesting thing that a lot of people don't understand about pageantry is that there are hundreds and hundreds of systems out there. Most people know Miss USA, miss America, miss Universe. Those are the ones that kind of the Olympics pageantry that everyone knows about. But there are again hundreds for every age group. Like they just judged a pageant in November that was Ms Senior World and these were ladies in their 50s, 60s and 70s, you know, and there's stuff for babies and there's stuff for teenagers and there's stuff for disabled people. I mean just everything. There's a pageant for it. So you know, what's happening in the news is not necessarily going to affect everything, but as industry it's been rocked a little bit and we just need to see a little bit how it's going to shake out.
Speaker 1:I feel the same as you. Real estate's changed a lot. We've had some major issues in the last year that have changed the way we do business and you know it was the same for 100 years and then now it's not. You know, same thing. So we have to adjust and we have to kind of figure out what's our new way of doing things so that we can pick up the pieces and move forward in hopes that we can have a wonderful industry that we've had for such a long, long time.
Speaker 1:So, what's been one of the most unforgettable experiences you have had as Ms World Traveler.
Speaker 2:Well, a lot of it has to do with meeting amazing people, but I will tell you about a travel disaster, because it was very recent. It was on this Asia trip, and the idea of this is not to be a necessarily a cautionary tale for people to, because I want people to travel.
Speaker 2:This is important to what we do. But flying over to, I was supposed to be going to Phnom Penh in Cambodia through South Korea and they were in the middle of a snowstorm so we couldn't land the plane and I ended up being on the plane for 20 hours instead of 13 hours, so that was really long. And then, through many, many long lines and things going wrong, I ended up having to spend the night on the floor sitting at the airport with no coat, in the middle of a snowstorm, and I was delayed three days. I missed part of my trip. So you know it's a tip of my tongue as a memorable not in the right way kind of thing Memorable no doubt.
Speaker 1:What could you do for 20 hours on a plane? I have never been on one longer than five.
Speaker 2:But in a way, it's these experiences that you go through, that then you learn from Okay. So if you've never been on a plane for 20 hours, say okay, well, what do I need to do to entertain myself for 20 hours?
Speaker 1:Right, I don't even think I can do that long. That's too long. I would go out of my mind for that long to take something to make you sleep so that you can that's a little trick to a little sleeping pill will help you For sure. So what is the key for you? Like? Your career spans coaching, media, design, entrepreneurship. What's the key to staying relevant and successful across industries Like how do you? What's your important key for the people that are listening To do what you're?
Speaker 2:passionate about. I wake up energized every day and you know, I started Ms World Traveler in my 60s. My sister and I were born in the same year and she retired this year and I started a new business and I've been working harder than I've ever worked in my whole life, loving every moment of it Because I'm passionate about it. You know, there's just an excitement and even though it's long days and hard work, love doesn't matter. I'm doing what I love and I feel good about that. It brings me joy, and if you're not doing something that brings you joy, life is drudgery right. So why not if you do something that you're passionate about?
Speaker 1:I love that, and I think that just is the message that I needed, on top of all the other little tidbits I got from you today. Thank you for that. How can our listeners find you? How can they reach out?
Speaker 2:Tell me how they can get a hold of you. I hope they'll follow our journey on YouTube. That's where our series is. It's all digital. So we're YouTube, msworldtraveler M Traveler. We're also on Instagram Keri MsWorldTraveler K-E-R-R-Y. Keri MsWorldTraveler, and we're also on Facebook, keri MsWorldT Traveler, and we're also on Facebook, keri, ms, world Traveler.
Speaker 1:So lots of ways for them to find us Great. And if they listen to this podcast, if you could share, like and subscribe to it. If we help just one person, then this podcast is a success, and that's really what my goal is for doing. This is to help other people realize that you can't have adversity, you can't have change in jobs. You can have, you know, you can have nuggets in everything that you do. There's always a positive in every negative. So thank you for being on here today, thank you for sharing. Is there any last words that you would like to say to our audience.
Speaker 2:Just do it, don't wait. It's never too late to start something new, so don't wait, try it. Do it now.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for being on here and we will talk soon, I know it.
