From Self-Love to Social Change: Students Use Media to Uplift and Empower
Students Victoria Lever, Federica Albanese and Ansuya Bisbey were recently honored as winners of the Girl Power Contest. Sponsored by the Montgomery County Commission for Women, Montgomery County Public Libraries and Montgomery County Recreation, the annual contest invited participants to respond to a prompt about the type of media they would create to inspire and empower women in their community. Winners were selected in four categories: elementary school, middle school, high school and adult.
Meet the MCPS Winners
Victoria Lever: Elementary School, First Place
Lever, who recently finished 5th grade at Ashburton Elementary School, was encouraged to submit after her mom saw a flyer in the mail. With a love of podcasts and storytelling, she saw it as a chance to create something fun.
“I’ve always wanted to start a podcast,” Lever said. “It would be fun to talk with other people, hear other people’s opinions and talk about what you want.”
She was influenced by shows like Who Smarted? and by her own family—Shawna Renee, her aunt, and radio host, and her “Pop Pop” Joe Madison, a SiriusXM host and civil rights activist. Writing gave her a creative outlet, a sense of freedom and responsibility. She built her podcast concept around role models who challenge stereotypes, including Ruby Bridges, Coy Mathis, Oprah Winfrey and Malala Yousafzai.
“The characters in my podcast are inspiring; that’s why I chose them,” shared Lever. She even created a character named Ren who is confident, kind and smart, and inspired by a British singer.
Her mom is one of her role models, and credits her and her dad for their support to enter the contest. She also talks to her parents about challenges she has faced or seen, including moments at school where she felt girls were treated unfairly.
Lever hopes her entry leaves a lasting impression. “I want others to feel more confident,” she said. “To speak up, love themselves and not feel like they have to change to make other people feel good.”
Her dream? Launching a podcast with friends, analyzing nursery rhymes, old Disney movies and ideas for the future.
Federica Albanese: Middle School, First Place
Albanese, who recently finished 8th grade at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School, knew exactly what she wanted to create when she saw the contest: a video that would inspire, empower and uplift others.
As a regular content creator of her own YouTube page, she’s no stranger to the power of media.
“It felt natural for me to create a video for this contest,” Albanese said. “I came up with my video based on my own life experiences and how I handle challenges. I wanted to share a message that was not only inspiring, but also authentic.”
In her videos, Albanese blends her own style and humor to share positive messages that make people think and smile. Her YouTube channel "RikaMcLaugh" is actually a play on words, sounding like “Make Laugh.”
“Humor is a powerful way to connect with people and bring them together,” said Albanese. “That’s why it is part of all my YouTube videos.
While she has also faced challenges, she has overcome them by finding creative ways to keep doing what she loves. She seeks out role models who are “brave, kind and never give up,” and has a strong support system with her family and teachers.
Her messages to others: “Be inspired to believe in [your] dreams and never give up. Find creative ways to overcome challenges and break down barriers. Let’s show what Girl Power means. Let’s become unstoppable!”
Ansuya Bisbey: High School, First Place
Rising Richard Montgomery High School senior Bisbey loves cooking and baking shows, so she created one that would include guests from different “walks of life” to share their stories.
“I really like watching shows that convey messages and emotions well," said Bisbey. “So I wanted to create a show that did that while also teaching you how to make something.”
At school, she is one of the editors-in-chief for the literary magazine, Fine Lines. “I’ve always liked writing to tell a story,” she said. “You can tell so much about a person from their writing style.”
She has done a lot of work with the Montgomery County Commission for Women’s Emerging Leaders program. She is deeply engaged in gender advocacy work and acutely aware of the barriers others face. Her role models reflect this awareness—trailblazers such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Gen Z activist Deja Foxx, who inspire her own path toward a career in international relations and human rights.
She shared a powerful excerpt from her entry: “I believe real empowerment starts with education and representation – not just including women for the sake of appearing inclusive, but truly normalizing their presence in all spaces,” she said. “The media should reflect the reality that women belong everywhere: in labs, kitchens, classrooms, boardrooms, and beyond. And we need to keep having these conversations – not just once during Women’s History Month, but in everyday moments, in content people actually watch and enjoy.”
While each person approached the prompt in their own unique way, a common thread ran through their entries: a strong commitment to uplifting others, challenging stereotypes and using their voices to promote empowerment. Read their entries.
