Amanta Krasniqi always felt compelled to compete in a beauty pageant but lacked the nerve to actually give it a go. Her time finally arriving, the Yorktown native has signed up for the 2020 Miss New York USA Pageant and has drawn courage from a women she has long adored. “Her body wasn’t skinny. She had curves. That’s how you're supposed to have confidence in yourself, said Krasniqi of Marilyn Monroe, and therein lies what really drives her to represent New York for the town of Yorktown.

The challenge of entering the corporate world presents unique challenges for women. Here are three areas of concern for females going into the world of work - whether in their 20's or 50's - and expert advice on how to not just survive, but thrive in today's environment.

This is a man’s world, sang James Brown more than half a decade ago.

Let’s pick up a few shifts, as a side hustle while in school, I thought to myself. After all, working as a bartender or server in a high end restaurant in a big city can yield some nice cash. If you’re a student or at the beginning of a career with many expenses and zero third party support, making some extra bucks to alleviate the struggle is appealing. However, it comes at a price.

Despite the various challenges that women still face in the workplace, many industries have seen significant growth in the number of female employees over the past 40 years. Although sexual harassment, lack of mentoring and stereotypes based on gender roles continue to be a problem, more women are joining industries that have been historically dominated by men. The STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sector in particular, are seeing more and more women join the ranks. Here are some of the largest fields.

Well I’ve finally done it folks. I’ve finally went off and started an official site of my own dedicated to the women I’ve penned about here on Vocal. This is actually kind of a scary thought to me, if I must be frank. Why? Well, the internet is a vast machine of barking bloggers, it’s a saturated platform, and it’s very easy to get lost in the sauce. Still the key is time and patience (of which, I have none, but I do have persistence and determination in spades, so there’s that…)

For many years, for some reason, women were not recognized as "driving" the society in terms of their careers. Fortunately, the narrative has changed for the best for women like Roberta Annan. Women were not as extroverted as they are today for various reasons. They are now in very good positions throughout the world, although some have had a difficult time before they reached their heights.The fact is, it has never been as easy as a pie for Annan, as she exceeded the depth of philanthropy with a bigger position as a leader. Her hard work has not been in vain.

I started modeling when I was 18, just a few months after I had given birth to my first child. I was married then, and my husband at the time was in the Army. I wanted to build a life more than just being a stay at home mom. That title didn't seem fulfilling enough for me.

I don't know about you other women out there, but I am tired of being required to wear a bra in society. Actually, I'm tired of being judged for who I am as a whole. I am a modern woman who lives an alternative lifestyle, and even as that is becoming the norm, this is a small glimpse of the attitudes and judgement I am subjected to on a daily basis.

Gender diversity in the business world is changing. Across the globe, successful women are taking on senior positions in various industries. Businesses like tech companies, law firms, startups, and media platforms have started appointing women as board members, senior staff, and advisory committee members.

Most of the modeling industry has strict appearance rules, which most people don't check the box for. But by it being 2019, many models are defying the odds and showing the world that it is okay to be "different" from other models and to accept what makes you stand out.

New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) had its 20th annual Designing Women Awards gala on Tuesday, June 11 at the acclaimed Directors Guild of America Theater in New York City and was once again a motivational celebration. Co-presented by Variety, the event recognized and celebrated extraordinary women behind-the-scenes, renowned make-up artists, hair stylists and costume designers for their achievements, talent, and vision in the entertainment industry.