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Official Written Testimony of Ms. Jo’liza John In Recognition of Ms. Janeisha John Good day Chairman Avery Lewis, senators of the 36th Legislature, fellow testifiers and members of the viewing and listening audience, It is with deep honor and heartfelt conviction that I, Ms. Jo’liza John, submit this testimony in recognition of my sister, Ms. Janeisha John, a woman whose name carries pride, perseverance, and the spirit of the Virgin Islands everywhere she goes. From the time I was five years old, I watched my ten-year-old sister carry herself with the kind of purpose and confidence that most adults never master. Even as a child, she dreamed big, moved with intention, and carried a light that made people stop and pay attention. I have seen that same light grow into something powerful, the kind that inspires generations to come. I am not writing this just as her sister, but as someone who has had a front-row seat to the full story, the hard work, the self-discipline, the doubt, the late nights, the prayer, and the perseverance that came before the spotlight. I have held her pages while she practiced speeches, corrected her lines when she stumbled, and pushed her to speak from her heart when the words did not come easily. That is why I say confidently, her greatness is not an act, it is her nature. She does not do things to be seen; she does them because she truly serves with purpose. Janeisha is more than a titleholder. She is a woman who is what she represents: grace, resilience, authenticity, and faith. Who she is when the cameras are off and the doors are closed is even more admirable than any image the public has ever seen. She is genuine, grounded, and loyal to her family, her faith, and the people of these Virgin Islands. Have you ever heard someone say, “Who you are when you think no one is looking is who you truly are”? I believe that with all my heart because I have seen it firsthand. The greatest witness is knowing what I know and seeing what I have seen through my lens of 33 years of shared rooms and memories. The Janeisha I know, when the cameras are off and the doors are closed, is far more admirable than any version the public, media, or melee could ever paint. She is like Point Udall itself; what you see in real time, no camera could ever capture. Her true essence, her beauty, her humility, discipline, and authenticity shine bright. But the best part is, they shine brightest when no one is watching. Her beauty turns heads. When she walks into a room, people notice. She carries herself like someone who knows exactly who she is and where she comes from. But that presence was never about vanity; it is the result of years of discipline, creativity, and passion. From childhood, she has been immersed in her studies, pageantry, ballet, modeling, hosting, acting, theatre, and even taekwondo. She has trained and performed her entire life, not for applause, but to represent excellence from the Virgin Islands on every stage she steps onto. You can be driving through New York and see her on a billboard, watching television and catch her in a commercial, or even traveling internationally and see her face on a banner. That is how far her reach goes. But before all that, she was right here on St. Croix, working at AT&T, helping locals find the right phone plan, and greeting customers with that same humility she still carries today. When she moved to New York, it was not easy. She was told no more times than most people could handle, but she never stopped. Eventually, she became one of the faces of AT&T’s national marketing campaigns. She went from helping customers in the store to becoming the model on the same phone. That is not luck; that is consistency, faith, and work ethic. She went from being the local sales girl everyone knew to being the woman little girls look up to, the one they see on screen and cannot help but smile and say, “She is from home.” And now, that same girl from St. Croix leads the marketing team of one of the most successful Black- owned media networks in the world. Janeisha learned service, compassion, and perseverance from our parents, Josephat John and Liz Torres, and from our sister, Janella John, who has always been a pillar of strength and creativity within our family. Together, they helped shape Janeisha into the woman she is today. Our parents, founders of Centerline Bakery & Deli, served St. Croix for over 35 years, teaching us all the value of hard work, humility, and serving others with love. Those lessons became the foundation of Janeisha’s character and the moral compass that guides her success. She has always used her platform to lift others, to make space, and to represent where she is from with integrity and love. Her journey through pageantry, from Miss St. Croix, to Miss University of the Virgin Islands, to Miss America U.S. Virgin Islands, and finally Miss U.S. Virgin Islands Universe 2010, was never about crowns or titles. It was about purpose. She represented this territory with grace and authenticity on stages most people only dream of. She made history as the first Virgin Islander to ever compete at both the Miss America and Miss Universe pageants, carrying our flag with pride and poise. She has never lost her sense of home. She continues to mentor, to give back, and to remind people where she is from, St. Croix, the Virgin Islands. What makes her deserving of not just this recognition but the Key to the Territory is how she continues to represent our islands with grace, integrity, and excellence. She has turned her life into a love letter to the Virgin Islands, showing the world that greatness can come from right here. Her achievements may stretch across oceans, but her heart remains rooted in home. The Key to the Territory represents honor, contribution, legacy, and service. These are not just words for her; they are her lifestyle. She has unlocked doors for others through her example, through her work, and through her unwavering belief in what it means to carry her culture with dignity. For all these reasons, I firmly believe Ms. Janeisha John is not only worthy of this legislative recognition, but truly deserving of the Key to the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands. She is a living example of Virgin Islands excellence, a woman of vision, discipline, purpose, and heart. Her story is not only her own, but one that continues to inspire and empower the next generation of Virgin Islanders to dream without limits. Thank you, Senator Angel Bolques, Jr., and the members of the 36th Legislature, for your time, your attention, and your dedication to recognizing the individuals who uplift and represent the spirit of our islands with pride. With the highest respect and admiration, Sincerely, Ms. Jo’liza John (DJ MoJo’) Founder, DME (TGDM VI Music Initiative) U.S. Navy Veteran