Myleeza Mingo, СAPP16, has never been afraid to go after what she wants. She is СAPPthe type of person who can try something, donСAPPt like it, move on to the next thing.СAPP
Growing Up
Myleeza started college at another university, studying to become a pharmacist.
СAPPI absolutely hated it because my heart wasnСAPPt in it,СAPP she said. СAPPI was doing that because my mom really wanted me to. I didnСAPPt do that because Myleeza wanted to.СAPP
With some influence from hometown friends, Myleeza considered transferring to UL Lafayette.
СAPPI was on campus for one day and as soon as I got there, IСAPPm like, СAPPYeah, thatСAPPs it, IСAPPm going here, IСAPPm going here!СAPPСAPP she said. СAPPThe feel was different.
СAPPIt really is a studentСAPPs type of university. ItСAPPs for the students, by the students,СAPP she said. СAPPAnd the city of Lafayette, in general, caters to UL Lafayette students so it really felt like a home away from home to me.
СAPPAnd still to this day, when I go to UL LafayetteСAPPs campus, it doesnСAPPt feel like this is my college campus, it feels like this is my second home,СAPP she said.
Transferring to UL Lafayette was an important first step Myleeza took in growing up.
СAPPWhen I transferred, I say that was the first adult decision that I made and that was the first decision that I could say, СAPPThis was the right decision,СAPPСAPP 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.
СAPPI actually went to a fragrance appearance and that let me meet Kim,СAPP she said. СAPPI woke up at 4:30 in the morning, drove to Jackson, Mississippi, from New Orleans, had a shirt that said СAPPIСAPPm Myleeza Kardash from Twitter,СAPP waited in line for 8 hours СAPP no food, no bathroom СAPP like, this was intense.
СAPPIt was very like smile, take a picture, she signs your bottle, go on about your business,СAPP she said. СAPPSo, when I walked up, she was just like СAPPI know you from Twitter, youСAPPre Myleeza,СAPP and as soon as I walked up, she stood up and hugged me.СAPP
This Twitter experience really motivated Myleeza to follow her heart when deciding to transfer and change her major to study public relations.
СAPPI chose public relations because I saw how big Myleeza Kardash was a hit,СAPP she said. СAPPI saw how much people really cared about what I said СAPP itСAPPs just how you word it.СAPP
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 KimСAPPs team asked Myleeza to be part of a campaign for Skims shapewear and underwear, she said yes.
СAPPI didnСAPPt think much of it,СAPP she said. СAPPI just thought weСAPPd take a couple pictures, theyСAPPll put it on Twitter and thatСAPPll be that СAPP I had no idea it would lead to having .СAPP
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
СAPP Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian)
Had to see her on a huge billboard!!!
Two Worlds Influencing Each Other
СAPPWhenever I discuss this with people from my professional life, I always say IСAPPm like Hannah Montana СAPP I live two different worlds,СAPP she said. СAPPWhen IСAPPm there, IСAPPm a rock star, when IСAPPm here, IСAPPm just Myleeza, but over there, IСAPPm Myleeza Kardash.СAPP
In order to keep the Myleeza Kardash world going, Myleeza needed some help from her professors in the Myleeza Mingo world.
СAPPImagine explaining to your professor СAPP youСAPPre like 19 years old СAPP youСAPPre asking to retake your exam because youСAPPre going to L.A. to film a TV show,СAPP she said. СAPPItСAPPs like a СAPPmy-dog-ate-my-homeworkСAPP type thing. But everyone was so understanding and IСAPPm like, СAPPThis would not happen at any other university.СAPPСAPP
MyleezaСAPPs professors would use this connection in class as well, prompting debates on relevant events in the KardashianСAPPs public life like lawsuits.
СAPPSo, it really took what was going on in my Myleeza Kardash world and bring it to my Myleeza Mingo world,СAPP she said. СAPPAnd it really was like, СAPPOkay this is what youСAPPre going to school for.СAPP ItСAPPs actually happening.СAPP
The support Myleeza got while at UL Lafayette made all the difference in following her ambition.
СAPPThe 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,СAPP she said.
СAPPItСAPPs a crazy story about following your dreams and speaking stuff into existence.СAPP
Prepared for Life
In one of her business minor classes, she had a particularly impactful encounter with her professor, Dr. Geoff Stewart.
СAPPThat class was on the bigger side, it was like maybe 75 people,СAPP she said. СAPPAnd at the end of class, he asked me to stay behind. And IСAPPm like, СAPPOh my god, what did I do, am I failing that bad?СAPP
СAPPHe said СAPPI know that youСAPPre 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, youСAPPre that one student that I need to pull to the side to say this to,СAPPСAPP she said.
СAPPAnd when youСAPPre feeling so much pressure on you until youСAPPre about to crack СAPP because every college student has those days thatСAPPs like if someone just blinks at me wrong, IСAPPm about to bust out into tears right now, IСAPPm so stressed out,СAPP she said. СAPPAnd it was around that time and he pulled me aside and encouraged me.СAPP
Encouragement as a student is something Myleeza needed and something she wants to pass on to current and future students.
СAPPItСAPPs definitely an overwhelming feeling especially for someone thatСAPPs like 17, 18 years old and you think youСAPPre supposed to have all the answers right then and there, but you wonСAPPt have all the answers and thatСAPPs okay because thatСAPPs how itСAPPs supposed to be,СAPP she said.
СAPPYouСAPPre not supposed to have all the answers, youСAPPre supposed to make mistakes and learn from it, so donСAPPt feel overwhelmed,СAPP she said. СAPPAnd if you are feeling overwhelmed, itСAPPs okay because itСAPPs going to come together, it always does.СAPP
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.
СAPPNow that I look back on it, I learned everything in that class,СAPP she said. СAPPItСAPPs basically like a contest. If your campaign is the best, you get an A.
СAPPThis is a 30-page type thing. It was very long, very extensive,СAPP she said. СAPPYou have to go through and tick every checkmark to make sure youСAPPre even able to present it. It was very stressful but very fulfilling.
СAPPSo, I got up to present and my group killed it and we ended up winning,СAPP she said. СAPPI felt like I was on 'American Idol.'СAPP
Myleeza is grateful for the Department of CommunicationСAPPs goal to prepare students for life after college.
СAPPThe communications department and UL Lafayette in general really prepares you for your professional life,СAPP she said.
СAPPToward the end of your college years, you really start buckling down and itСAPPs not a choice to buckle down in public relations, itСAPPs a class,СAPP she said. СAPPIt 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.
СAPPThat portfolio I still have to this day and I still use, I just pick out the parts that I donСAPPt need anymore and update it, but I still use that same portfolio,СAPP she said.
Keeping Up with Myleeza
Since graduating from UL Lafayette, Myleeza has earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in marketing.
СAPPUL 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,СAPP she said.
СAPPAll 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 didnСAPPt even have to study,СAPP she said.
MyleezaСAPPs career grew out of the internship she completed at UL Lafayette.
СAPPI interned for Q95.5, the hip hop and R&B radio station in Lafayette,СAPP she said. СAPPI 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.СAPP
Myleeza moved through a couple of marketing positions and a position teaching before finding her perfect fit as a Communications Coordinator at the СAPP of Houston.
СAPPI love the university setting,СAPP she said. СAPPI help with newsletters, I manage the social media, I help with email campaigns, I create campaigns, any kind of fun idea IСAPPll see, IСAPPll pitch it to my boss and then sheСAPPll ask the steps I need."
СAPPItСAPPs really a hands-off thing and I love that they trust me so much. I call it my first СAPPbig girl jobСAPP and I really do feel like a big girl right now,СAPP she said.
