Hometown: Elizabeth City/Durham, NC

Cultural Background: African-American

What I am doing now: Currently, I'm working on launching a handmade jewelry company called “Joi Amore”, participating in an independent film called “Hackathon”, taking steps to further my education, modeling, volunteering when I can and faithfully working in a stem cell/leukemia research lab at UCSD.

What being a True Beauty has meant to me:Being a Black Opal True Beauty model winner has been an overwhelmingly exciting experience! Since winning the competition and traveling to New York to do my photo shoot for promotion, my life has moved in a new direction. It has given me a new confidence in my abilities and reaffirmed my faith and commitment toward my goals and the One who put me in this position.

Hometown: Washington, DC

Cultural Background: Eritrean (located in East Africa)

What I am doing now: I am currently attending a community college majoring in communications, and have plans to transfer to ECSU in the upcoming spring, to further my education in hopes of getting my BA In about two years.

What being a True Beauty has meant to me:Being a true beauty has given me that boost of confidence, drive and passion to pursue my modeling career. This opportunity has allowed me to conquer my fears and follow my dreams and aspirations.

Thank you Black Opal for selecting me as the 2012 Black Opal True Beauty Finalist and for giving me this wonderful opportunity of a lifetime to work with the grand prize winner and the whole Black Opal team. And of course receiving this generous scholarship that I was awarded. Thank you again Black Opal for seeing the true beauty in me.

Hometown: Elmhurst, NY

Cultural Background: Dominican

What I am doing now: Currently I am working as a receptionist while preparing to further my education.

What being a True Beauty has meant to me: Being a True Beauty has been not only been a wonderful experience but a window to many opportunities and a true blessing.

Hometown: Queens, NY

Cultural Background: African-American/Jamaican

What I am doing now: Currently I’m a fashion student majoring in Fashion Merchandising with a concentration in fashion publishing; and a Brand Ambassador for Victoria’s Secret.

What being a True Beauty has meant to me: From the moment I found out I was a finalist to the day we were on set, the words True Beauty have taken on a whole new meaning.

Black Opal’s model search has shown me that aesthetics is only skin deep and true beauty includes an educational journey. For this reason, I’m extremely grateful that one of the prizes was a $2,000 scholarship which has helped me tremendously!

It has been an honor to have had the opportunity to work with a brand that provides makeup and skincare for just about every shade. This is one experience I will never forget!

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Cultural Background: Sri Lankan and African-American

What I am doing now: I am currently working on my album.For those of you who don't know, not only do I model but I sing and I write my own music as well.

I also was accepted into the Cynthia Bailey Agency so I'm really excited about that!!! But for the most part I am still doing what I love, strutting down the runway and posing for the camera...TRUE BEAUTY STYLE!

What being a True Beauty has meant to me: Being a True Beauty to me has meant loving who you are on the inside first that way you can comfortably embrace who you are on the outside. It is so important to ask yourself “Who am I?” “Who is the person within?” and really figure that out. So many of us are driven by the external but it is the internal that really matters most. Once you know who you are then you will be able to exude the confidence and become the True Beauty that you really are.

Hometown: Woodside, Queens

Cultural Background: Antiguan, West Indian

What I am doing now: Currently, I am a Sophomore at the School of Visual Arts majoring in Illustration.

I also was accepted into the Cynthia Bailey Agency so I'm really excited about that!!! But for the most part I am still doing what I love, strutting down the runway and posing for the camera...TRUE BEAUTY STYLE!

What being a True Beauty has meant to me: True beauty is to first be true in the heart and in the mind within. Then what comes from within, will allure what is outside.

Hometowns: Lubumbashi & London

Cultural Background: Congolese Cypriot (African & Greek)

What I am doing now: Currently I split by time between being a top fashion, editorial and beauty model, running the Georges Malaika Foundation creating educational opportunities for African girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and being a wife and mother.

What being a True Beauty has meant to me: I believe that to be a true beauty you must appreciate the beauty of the world and the people around you. It is not always easy to do this, as we all know, but we all must try our best and this way we will be our best.

Hometowns: Herndon, PA, via Prague, Czech Republic

Cultural Background: multi-racial (Czech and Ghanaian)

What I am doing now: I currently work as an engineer at a top financial firm in IT. I am also still a small business owner, developing youth basketball athletes and preparing them for collegiate and professional careers as well as part of my organization, Team 2Four. Since the competition, I recently started the Starla D. Williams Foundation, a non-profit organization, in honor of my late teammate and dear friend who passed in 2010. I still am doing some local modeling work and hope to take my talents to NYC as a plus-sized model! Any agencies interested?