Myleeza Mingo, Ӱר16, has never been afraid to go after what she wants. She is Ӱרthe type of person who can try something, donӰרt like it, move on to the next thing.Ӱר
Growing Up
Myleeza started college at another university, studying to become a pharmacist.
ӰרI absolutely hated it because my heart wasnӰרt in it,Ӱר she said. ӰרI was doing that because my mom really wanted me to. I didnӰרt do that because Myleeza wanted to.Ӱר
With some influence from hometown friends, Myleeza considered transferring to UL Lafayette.
ӰרI was on campus for one day and as soon as I got there, IӰרm like, ӰרYeah, thatӰרs it, IӰרm going here, IӰרm going here!ӰרӰר she said. ӰרThe feel was different.
ӰרIt really is a studentӰרs type of university. ItӰרs for the students, by the students,Ӱר she said. ӰרAnd the city of Lafayette, in general, caters to UL Lafayette students so it really felt like a home away from home to me.
ӰרAnd still to this day, when I go to UL LafayetteӰרs campus, it doesnӰרt feel like this is my college campus, it feels like this is my second home,Ӱר she said.
Transferring to UL Lafayette was an important first step Myleeza took in growing up.
ӰרWhen I transferred, I say that was the first adult decision that I made and that was the first decision that I could say, ӰרThis was the right decision,ӰרӰר she said.
Being Myleeza Kardash
As a big fan of "Keeping up with the Kardashians," Myleeza changed her Twitter handle to in high school, a move that got her recognized by Kim Kardashian.
ӰרI actually went to a fragrance appearance and that let me meet Kim,Ӱר she said. ӰרI woke up at 4:30 in the morning, drove to Jackson, Mississippi, from New Orleans, had a shirt that said ӰרIӰרm Myleeza Kardash from Twitter,Ӱר waited in line for 8 hours Ӱר no food, no bathroom Ӱר like, this was intense.
ӰרIt was very like smile, take a picture, she signs your bottle, go on about your business,Ӱר she said. ӰרSo, when I walked up, she was just like ӰרI know you from Twitter, youӰרre Myleeza,Ӱר and as soon as I walked up, she stood up and hugged me.Ӱר
This Twitter experience really motivated Myleeza to follow her heart when deciding to transfer and change her major to study public relations.
ӰרI chose public relations because I saw how big Myleeza Kardash was a hit,Ӱר she said. ӰרI saw how much people really cared about what I said Ӱר itӰרs just how you word it.Ӱר
Being recognized by Kim Kardashian was just the beginning for Myleeza. The two built a genuine friendship, which led to hanging out at birthdays and always having Kanye West concert tickets. So, when KimӰרs team asked Myleeza to be part of a campaign for Skims shapewear and underwear, she said yes.
ӰרI didnӰרt think much of it,Ӱר she said. ӰרI just thought weӰרd take a couple pictures, theyӰרll put it on Twitter and thatӰרll be that Ӱר I had no idea it would lead to having .Ӱר
This campaign is so special to me because I get to celebrate the people that have had my back forever! I had to make sure my girl was front and center! My biggest fan from day 1, I
Ӱר Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian)
Had to see her on a huge billboard!!!
Two Worlds Influencing Each Other
ӰרWhenever I discuss this with people from my professional life, I always say IӰרm like Hannah Montana Ӱר I live two different worlds,Ӱר she said. ӰרWhen IӰרm there, IӰרm a rock star, when IӰרm here, IӰרm just Myleeza, but over there, IӰרm Myleeza Kardash.Ӱר
In order to keep the Myleeza Kardash world going, Myleeza needed some help from her professors in the Myleeza Mingo world.
ӰרImagine explaining to your professor Ӱר youӰרre like 19 years old Ӱר youӰרre asking to retake your exam because youӰרre going to L.A. to film a TV show,Ӱר she said. ӰרItӰרs like a Ӱרmy-dog-ate-my-homeworkӰר type thing. But everyone was so understanding and IӰרm like, ӰרThis would not happen at any other university.ӰרӰר
MyleezaӰרs professors would use this connection in class as well, prompting debates on relevant events in the KardashianӰרs public life like lawsuits.
ӰרSo, it really took what was going on in my Myleeza Kardash world and bring it to my Myleeza Mingo world,Ӱר she said. ӰרAnd it really was like, ӰרOkay this is what youӰרre going to school for.Ӱר ItӰרs actually happening.Ӱר
The support Myleeza got while at UL Lafayette made all the difference in following her ambition.
ӰרThe Myleeza Kardash story is such a crazy experience but I always credit UL Lafayette for always giving me that push and also my professors for allowing me to reschedule my exams because, without them, none of this would be possible,Ӱר she said.
ӰרItӰרs a crazy story about following your dreams and speaking stuff into existence.Ӱר
Prepared for Life
In one of her business minor classes, she had a particularly impactful encounter with her professor, Dr. Geoff Stewart.
ӰרThat class was on the bigger side, it was like maybe 75 people,Ӱר she said. ӰרAnd at the end of class, he asked me to stay behind. And IӰרm like, ӰרOh my god, what did I do, am I failing that bad?Ӱר
ӰרHe said ӰרI know that youӰרre going to do great things, I can just tell. As a professor, you just know when a student is going to go off and do great things and, in this class, youӰרre that one student that I need to pull to the side to say this to,ӰרӰר she said.
ӰרAnd when youӰרre feeling so much pressure on you until youӰרre about to crack Ӱר because every college student has those days thatӰרs like if someone just blinks at me wrong, IӰרm about to bust out into tears right now, IӰרm so stressed out,Ӱר she said. ӰרAnd it was around that time and he pulled me aside and encouraged me.Ӱר
Encouragement as a student is something Myleeza needed and something she wants to pass on to current and future students.
ӰרItӰרs definitely an overwhelming feeling especially for someone thatӰרs like 17, 18 years old and you think youӰרre supposed to have all the answers right then and there, but you wonӰרt have all the answers and thatӰרs okay because thatӰרs how itӰרs supposed to be,Ӱר she said.
ӰרYouӰרre not supposed to have all the answers, youӰרre supposed to make mistakes and learn from it, so donӰרt feel overwhelmed,Ӱר she said. ӰרAnd if you are feeling overwhelmed, itӰרs okay because itӰרs going to come together, it always does.Ӱר
While being a student can be stressful, the classes are worth it. Myleeza recalls the most valuable class being the Strategic Campaign Management (CMCN 449) class, which she took with Dr. Deidra Givens.
ӰרNow that I look back on it, I learned everything in that class,Ӱר she said. ӰרItӰרs basically like a contest. If your campaign is the best, you get an A.
ӰרThis is a 30-page type thing. It was very long, very extensive,Ӱר she said. ӰרYou have to go through and tick every checkmark to make sure youӰרre even able to present it. It was very stressful but very fulfilling.
ӰרSo, I got up to present and my group killed it and we ended up winning,Ӱר she said. ӰרI felt like I was on 'American Idol.'Ӱר
Myleeza is grateful for the Department of CommunicationӰרs goal to prepare students for life after college.
ӰרThe communications department and UL Lafayette in general really prepares you for your professional life,Ӱר she said.
ӰרToward the end of your college years, you really start buckling down and itӰרs not a choice to buckle down in public relations, itӰרs a class,Ӱר she said. ӰרIt was a class to do your portfolio, it was a class to do an internship, it was a class to do the campaign, they really enforce this.
ӰרThat portfolio I still have to this day and I still use, I just pick out the parts that I donӰרt need anymore and update it, but I still use that same portfolio,Ӱר she said.
Keeping Up with Myleeza
Since graduating from UL Lafayette, Myleeza has earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in marketing.
ӰרUL Lafayette prepared me 100% because a lot of the theories and different marketing terms that they used in grad school, I also learned at UL Lafayette,Ӱר she said.
ӰרAll of the terms I learned in those communications and public relations classes directly related to what we learned in grad school to the point where sometimes I didnӰרt even have to study,Ӱר she said.
MyleezaӰרs career grew out of the internship she completed at UL Lafayette.
ӰרI interned for Q95.5, the hip hop and R&B radio station in Lafayette,Ӱר she said. ӰרI did a lot of their social media, I learned a lot about like email marketing, I learned a lot about the back end of website design, and we did promotional campaigns.Ӱר
Myleeza moved through a couple of marketing positions and a position teaching before finding her perfect fit as a Communications Coordinator at the Ӱר of Houston.
ӰרI love the university setting,Ӱר she said. ӰרI help with newsletters, I manage the social media, I help with email campaigns, I create campaigns, any kind of fun idea IӰרll see, IӰרll pitch it to my boss and then sheӰרll ask the steps I need."
ӰרItӰרs really a hands-off thing and I love that they trust me so much. I call it my first Ӱרbig girl jobӰר and I really do feel like a big girl right now,Ӱר she said.
