Katrina Spagnoletti
~ Pageant Queen/Etiquette Consultant ~
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Copa: Where are you from?
Katrina: I was born in Washington, D.C., at Freedmen’s Hospital, now known as Howard University Hospital. That detail matters to me.Freedmen’s Hospital holds deep historical significance. Following the Civil War, it provided medical care to thousands of formerly enslaved African Americans who fled the South during the Great Migration. It was one of the first hospitals of its kind to serve former slaves and later became a cornerstone of healthcare for Washington’s Black community. Knowing that I entered the world in a place rooted in resilience, healing, and progress feels powerful, and in many ways, it mirrors the journey of my own life. Copa: At what time did you develop an interest in fashion and style?
Katrina: My love for fashion started when I became boy-crazy—suddenly, style mattered. I began studying fashion magazines and dreaming big. As a teen, I wanted to be a fashion designer and attend a school dedicated to fashion, but that dream didn’t unfold the way I planned. What it did do was push me to teach myself. I learned what works, what empowers, and how clothing can completely shift confidence. That passion turned into a career as a stylist in the DMV area, working with companies across state lines and eventually styling successful women preparing to date and find love. Somewhere along the way, I became what I like to call a love stylist. Learning fashion also became essential to my journey as an entrepreneur and a pageant queen. |
U.S. Capitol
Map of Washington, DC
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Copa: Please share your pageantry experiences with our readers.
Katrina: That would be my pleasure. I began my pageantry journey at the age of fifty-three, and it truly changed my life. I honestly believe it was the path I was meant to walk. My first competition was Mrs. Virginia America in 2018. I walked onto that stage knowing absolutely nothing about how to win a crown. I was competing against women nearly thirty years younger than me, yet I was awarded Second Runner-Up, an accomplishment that was both unexpected and affirming.
After relocating to Florida, I decided to give pageantry another chance. At fifty-six years old, I won my first title as Mrs. Florida American 2020, making history in the process. I became the first Black woman crowned on that stage in nearly forty years, and at the time, the oldest winner. It was only my second pageant, again competing against women in their twenties and thirties, and I was crowned.
Following my Mrs. Florida reign, I earned the international title of Elite Mrs. Queen of the World. I was even hosted in Mumbai, India, an experience that was nothing short of unbelievable. Today, I proudly hold the prestigious title of Mrs. Classic Universe USA 2025-2026, making me a triple-crowned queen, a rare and difficult achievement in the world of pageantry.
Pageantry didn’t just give me credit, it gave me confidence, purpose, and proof that it’s never too late to step into your power.
Katrina: That would be my pleasure. I began my pageantry journey at the age of fifty-three, and it truly changed my life. I honestly believe it was the path I was meant to walk. My first competition was Mrs. Virginia America in 2018. I walked onto that stage knowing absolutely nothing about how to win a crown. I was competing against women nearly thirty years younger than me, yet I was awarded Second Runner-Up, an accomplishment that was both unexpected and affirming.
After relocating to Florida, I decided to give pageantry another chance. At fifty-six years old, I won my first title as Mrs. Florida American 2020, making history in the process. I became the first Black woman crowned on that stage in nearly forty years, and at the time, the oldest winner. It was only my second pageant, again competing against women in their twenties and thirties, and I was crowned.
Following my Mrs. Florida reign, I earned the international title of Elite Mrs. Queen of the World. I was even hosted in Mumbai, India, an experience that was nothing short of unbelievable. Today, I proudly hold the prestigious title of Mrs. Classic Universe USA 2025-2026, making me a triple-crowned queen, a rare and difficult achievement in the world of pageantry.
Pageantry didn’t just give me credit, it gave me confidence, purpose, and proof that it’s never too late to step into your power.
Confidence is one of the most powerful tools for success, and I am living proof of that. I truly believe that without understanding proper etiquette, I would not have won crowns or had the confidence to achieve everything I have. Etiquette gave me the foundation to walk into any room with certainty, self-worth, and grace, knowing I belonged there.
My hope for your readers is that they become more well-rounded, refined, and unapologetically authentic. I want them to understand that power does not have to be loud to be commanding. In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, etiquette is the key to restoring kindness, dignity, and mutual respect, and that is something we desperately need.
True power is knowing who you are, honoring others, and carrying yourself with grace, because confidence is not given, it is cultivated.
My hope for your readers is that they become more well-rounded, refined, and unapologetically authentic. I want them to understand that power does not have to be loud to be commanding. In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, etiquette is the key to restoring kindness, dignity, and mutual respect, and that is something we desperately need.
True power is knowing who you are, honoring others, and carrying yourself with grace, because confidence is not given, it is cultivated.
Copa: What does the future hold for Katrina Spagnoletti?
Katrina: The future holds unlimited possibilities. Not only as an etiquette contributor for Copa Style Magazine, but through teaching etiquette to large audiences, judging pageants, completing my reign as Mrs. Classic Universe USA, and continuing to build my skincare brand, Je Suis Skincare. I am also deeply committed to revising my self-help book, What My Mother Never Knew, a project that remains close to my heart.
I’ll be turning sixty-two this June, and I’m looking forward to celebrating another year on this glorious earth, grateful, grounded, and more inspired than ever.
Before I go, I want to sincerely thank Copa Style Magazine for the opportunity to collaborate and for trusting me to bring etiquette to your incredible readers. It is an honor to share a message rooted in confidence, grace, and kindness, because how we carry ourselves truly matters.
Katrina: The future holds unlimited possibilities. Not only as an etiquette contributor for Copa Style Magazine, but through teaching etiquette to large audiences, judging pageants, completing my reign as Mrs. Classic Universe USA, and continuing to build my skincare brand, Je Suis Skincare. I am also deeply committed to revising my self-help book, What My Mother Never Knew, a project that remains close to my heart.
I’ll be turning sixty-two this June, and I’m looking forward to celebrating another year on this glorious earth, grateful, grounded, and more inspired than ever.
Before I go, I want to sincerely thank Copa Style Magazine for the opportunity to collaborate and for trusting me to bring etiquette to your incredible readers. It is an honor to share a message rooted in confidence, grace, and kindness, because how we carry ourselves truly matters.
