Meet Miss Maryland Teen Volunteer 2027
DELANIE GRAHAM
Project: PowHERful
Delanie created Project PowHERful after realizing how overwhelming it can be for young women to navigate future career and educational opportunities without the proper guidance or resources. Inspired by her own experience searching for direction in high school, she developed the initiative to equip young women with the confidence, practical skills, and career readiness needed to pursue their goals and realize their full potential.
Through Project PowHERful, Delanie has spoken to more than 1,000 students across 30 schools on topics including career readiness, leadership, and confidence. She is the author of the Amazon Prime Day bestselling children's book Dress Up, Dream Big, launched a prom and homecoming dress drive to ensure every student had access to formal attire, and partners with organizations to provide professional clothing and career resources for young women entering the workforce.
Looking ahead, Delanie plans to expand Project PowHERful through statewide school visits, strategic community partnerships, and advocacy for increased career-readiness education, ensuring every young person has the tools and confidence to pursue their dreams.
More about Delanie:
Delanie Graham is a freshman at the University of Alabama, where she is pursuing a degree in Marketing with aspirations of earning a master's degree in Marketing and Public Relations before pursuing a career with The Walt Disney Company. A summa cum laude high school graduate and recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, Delanie is also the founder and CEO of Project PowHERful, a nonprofit dedicated to preparing young women for future career success through confidence-building and career readiness.
An accomplished dancer and entrepreneur, Delanie has more than 16 years of dance experience, serves as a student choreographer, owns her own social media marketing business, and works as a digital marketing intern for The Gleam Co.
She is also the author of the Amazon Prime Day bestselling children's book Dress Up, Dream Big, a Presidential Volunteer Service Award recipient, and has spoken to more than 1,000 students across 30 schools through Project PowHERful. With a passion for leadership, digital marketing, and empowering the next generation, Delanie is committed to helping young women pursue their goals with confidence while promoting service, scholarship, and success across Maryland.