Collegiate Times

Image: 2012-08-30 22:31:29

Johnson also spreads the word about her organization to students at Tech in classrooms and through social media. She even hears from people across the world who respond to the body campaign, “Body Confident, Beautiful Me.” The National Organization for Women initiated the campaign, which helps women to find beauty in their bodies and to promote self-confidence. Feeling a strong connection to this issue, Johnson brings the campaign to the women who take part in WYBF. Johnson says women come in different shapes and sizes, making them beautiful. But she also raises health awareness and encourages other women to take an interest in fitness as a way for them to take care of their bodies.

Being a confident young woman, she recently exposed this admirable quality even more so this past summer, being crowned Miss Sierra Leone USA — her first pageant. However, while Johnson has secured a spotlight on the work she’s doing for her organization and to show that she herself is an empowered woman, not everyone she has met has been willing to jump on the bandwagon. Even with much of the positive feedback, she has had a few individuals question the value of her work with WYBF.

“People ask why women’s issues is important now,” Johnson said. “They think that right now women are doing great (and that) there’s no point in having a women’s organization.”

However, with the occasional naysayers, balancing academics and currently being in South Carolina for a co-op, Johnson has proved she won’t let the little things get to her, and will work hard to get where she wants to be. In contrast, she has also received positive feedback from those who think it’s important to hear about issues from people her age. 

Johnson said she has sometimes experienced sexism and racism throughout her life, but that she mostly speaks about women’s issues to raise awareness on behalf of others who remain silent. After seeing she has made a positive impact on some people’s lives, she continues to do this as a way to reach out to those who aren’t heard.

Her friend and classmate, Rose, who has participated in the organization for a year or so, comments on Johnson’s personality as being accepting and unique.

“I think that Ruby is so special,” Rose said. “She can see in others what they can’t see in themselves.”

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A version of this article appeared in the Aug 31 issue of the Collegiate Times.