A native of Nashville, TN, Nilaja Aranmolate is a dynamic performer, scholar, and advocate dedicated to using art as a catalyst for empowerment, education, and social change. She is the reigning Teen United States with Global Icon Pageants, earning distinction in pageantry at both the national and international level. A screen acting major at the prestigious UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, Nilaja has trained with leading institutions including the La Jolla Playhouse Conservatory and The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. Her artistic reach also extends globally, having performed at the Fringe Festival in Scotland with the Los Angeles Theater Initiative. Rooted in her Nigerian heritage, Nilaja uses her creative voice to advocate for inclusion, belonging and social justice. Through original works and public platforms, she champions representation and equity in creative spaces. She also merges arts and education through collaborative UCLA initiatives, bringing performance and storytelling into Los Angeles classrooms to empower inner-city youth to discover and express their own narratives. Beyond the stage, Nilaja is a style innovator known for her distinctive, evolving aesthetic and commitment to sustainable fashion. She treats fashion as a form of storytelling - expressing identity through texture, color, and design. Her passion for eco-conscious creativity shines through her love of thrifted and upcycled fashion, transforming sustainability into bold personal expression. With a global platform, artistic purpose, and deep commitment to representation, Nilaja inspires and empowers young women worldwide to embrace their authentic identities and pursue their dreams unapologetically.