Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres recently added CoverGirl to her list of titles and launched a nationwide search to find a deserving young lady to represent the brand too.
Who did she find? Eighteen-year-old Alexis Harris, a University of Texas-San Antonio student who submitted a tear-jerking video to The Ellen Show highlighting her aspirations, accomplishments and how growing up without her father’s presence influenced her.
“I grew up in a household with a single mother with three brothers,” Harris says in her submission while wiping away tears. “I honestly don’t remember the last time I talked to my father and it’s not necessarily a bad thing to me…that’s helped my family stay so close.”
As the founder and CEO of S.M.I.I.L.E., Students Making Impacts In Lives Everywhere, the brown-eyed beauty is at the helm of an organization she founded to help the youth make a positive impact in the world.
She credits much to her mother, an army veteran whom she considers “selfless in the sacrifices she made for her children.”
“My mom…has been such a positive influence to me,” she says. “If I could give her anything, it would definitely be financial stability.”
And as the CoverGirl winner, Harris can help do that as she takes home the prize of $20,000. She will also participate in a campaign shoot with Ellen next month that will eventually appear in People magazine.
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