LILY BUCKMAN

BEAUTY, BRAINS & BEYOND Introducing LilyBuckman

MISS NATION

The age-old battle of beauty vs. brains has been a longstanding battle throughout history. Recently, we met a woman who has both and wears them proudly. Lily Buckman, the 21-year-old college student & model embodies what any parent would want as a role model for their child.

Although she is now living in South Carolina, Lily was born in Maryland, and has always had big dreams, goals and ambitions. She tells us “I think that everyone is uniquely beautiful in their own way”, and it’s clear to see that her humble, and kind personality has shined through to help her shoot for the moon, and land amongst the stars.

We asked Lily when her passion for modeling began, and she told us, “It has always been a dream of mine to be a model and pageant queen. I began modeling when I was 18, and I was Miss Chesapeake Bay Teen at Miss Maryland USA and I also won best interview. After that I began modeling for local boutiques and I had my first fashion show in DC fashion week where I modeled for the director/owner of DC Fashion Week and Corjor International. I was also blessed with the opportunity to model with my mother, Julie Buckman who is Mrs. South Carolina US Nation, Mrs. Nation First Runner Up, and Miss Bikini Chesapeake Fitness, where we wore amazing designs of Roots by Bella. After that I was excited to win my first pageant for which I still hold the title of, Miss Bikini Chesapeake Model, and I will compete in Miss Bikini US as part of Miami Swim Week.”

Lily describes her fashion style as classic and elegant, with a touch of bohemian and goth. Her oneof-a-kind look has taken her to unimaginable places, and we wanted to know a little more about her achievements, and Lily told us “I won and am currently Miss Maryland US Nation. Then I went on to win and still hold the national title of Miss Ambassador US Nation. I also competed against other titleholders from around the world last year in Miami and won and still hold the international title of Miss Nation, which is through Miss US Nation and Miss Nation Universe pageant organization.” She goes on to let us know, “I modeled in Miami Fashion week for various designers such as Bella Fashion Designs, Bindi Fashion Designs, Liz Couture Boutique and Rose Paulino. Since winning my titles I have been blessed with many exciting opportunities, and I was able to participate in multiple Christmas parades in beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It was an honor as Miss Nation to be in Pawleys Island, South Carolina Independence Day parade. I was also given the opportunity to be a judge for Miss Columbia Nation Universe pageant. I am blessed to have been honored in over 540 publications online on websites such as Fox, CBS and Market Watch.”

Some of Lily’s other achievements include being featured on the banner and website of Miss US Nation pageant, and to be represented by XLNT Worldwide Model Management as well as Hannah

In Lily’s eyes, an important part of being a title holder is making a difference in the community and world around us. She feels honored to have worked with World Vision, and joined the Global 6k for water, which is a organization that helps to raise money and awareness for clean water across the world. She is also playing a role in raising awareness for Brookgreen Gardens and their upcoming exhibit to help rescue the endangered species of red wolves. Lily has also helped raised awareness for the World Wildlife Fund for the endangered species of the giant panda and grey wolves, as well as donating blood to the American Red Cross, donating food and clothes to those in need, working with veterans and raising awareness for those with Alzheimer’s.

When we asked if she was passionate about any other charity organizations, Lily bravely tells us, “Cancer has affected my family and so it is a personal cause for me to be an advocate for the fight against cancer. I am honored to have volunteered for and raised money and awareness for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. I also have raised awareness as an advocate for World Vision, human trafficking, and racial equality”. She goes on to say, “As a pageant queen, I also am an advocate for women’s empowerment. I also have several volunteer opportunities coming up soon with the American Red Cross, and I am in the process of organizing a food and clothing drive, as well as several other volunteer opportunities.” Most recently, Lily was honored to coach contestants, help host and crown contestants at the Miss California US Nation pageant in San Diego, California. She tells us “I had a great time modeling for the beautiful designs of Bella Fashion Designs, Bindi Fashion Designs, and DAW Fashion Design Inc. in San Diego Fashion Week. Up next I will be continuing my journey as Miss Maryland US Nation, Miss Ambassador US Nation and Miss Nation. I am also very focused and passionate about expanding my modeling career and look forward to competing in Miss Bikini US next summer as Miss Bikini Chesapeake Model”.

Lily dreams of becoming a doctor, while expanding her modeling career, and it seems that nothing can stop her on her journey to the top. She has already reached so many of her goals, and her accomplishments seem endless. When we asked her what she was most proud of, she said “My biggest accomplishment is winning Miss Maryland US Nation, Miss Ambassador US Nation, Miss Nation and Miss Bikini Chesapeake Model. I am also extremely proud of getting full scholarships into 8 colleges. I received various awards throughout high school that brought me great pride, for my accomplishments on my swim team as well as academic achievement awards due to having a 4.0 GPA.”

It appears this incredible woman is too good to be true, she goes on to let us know that she enjoys hobbies outside of school and work, just as we all do. She says, “I enjoy spending time with my family and pets. I also love traveling, photography, running, swimming, kayaking, skiing and anything adventurous and outdoors! I have been blessed to travel many places in my lifetime like New York City, Cape Cod, Philadelphia PA, Washington DC, Williamsburg VA, Outer Banks NC, Myrtle Beach SC, which is where I currently call home. Charleston SC, Jacksonville FL, Amelia Island FL, Coco Beach FL, Orlando FL, Miami FL, The Florida Keys, San Diego CA, Canada, Bermuda, Atlantis Bahamas, Freeport Bahamas, Coco Cay Bahamas, Rome Italy, The Vatican, Switzerland, and Paris, France.”

She continues to tell us, “I love music and movies, especially rock music and horror movies. I have also played many sports in my life. I began dancing at a young age and danced for 10 years, mostly ballet, even at Strathmore Hall in Washington DC. I also played soccer and tennis, and I was on swim team for many years, and I have now been able to get onto my college swim team. Throughout high school I learned Taekwondo, and most recently I have earned my brown belt and I am now working towards earning my black belt. I also play the piano and I am learning to speak French and play the guitar.” And she leaves us wondering, is there anything she cannot do? Lily lets us know she is passionate about not giving up on her dreams and hope the same for aspiring young men and women. She states “My advice to someone just getting into modeling is to try different things and be confident. There are all different kinds of modeling and so many opportunities in the industry.” She tells us she is inspired by God and her family who motivate her to live her best life each and every day. When we asked the accomplished student and professional model how she was able to take what she loved and make a career with it, she tells us, “I turned my passion into a career by hard work. When I first got into the industry, I like anyone else in the world have certain goals in life I want to reach in modeling and in life. As Walt Disney once said, ‘if you can dream it, you can do it’. And that is exactly true, ‘you can do anything you put your mind to’, as said by Eminem. Obstacles in my life that have tried to block me did not win as they only made me stronger and more determined to succeed. I am blessed with all that has entailed thus far with winning these four pageants this past year and I’m excited to see what this next chapter in the journey of life holds for me.”

We join Lily in her excitement for what the next chapter for her holds and look forward to watching her conquer and thrive in whatever she may choose to take on in the future. If you’d like to reach Lily, you can find her on

@missnation2020 @lilyfaith550

LilyBuckman