Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Baylosis.
Hi Julia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a proud Filipino-American, active-duty Naval officer, and registered nurse currently stationed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. My journey began with a deep passion for healthcare and a strong desire to serve others—values that led me to commission as a Navy nurse. Service runs in my blood. My father, CAPT Ben Baylosis (Ret.), served 30 years as a Surface Warfare Officer, and my sister, LT Caroline Baylosis, is a Navy pilot. Watching their unwavering dedication to naval service inspired me to follow in their footsteps and carve out my own path—honoring my family’s legacy while proudly representing both my uniform and my culture.
In October 2023, I was stationed in Bethesda, Maryland to work at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where I’ve spent the past two years caring for patients on the Neurology and Transplant Unit. After settling into my new duty station, I decided to pursue a longtime dream: competing in pageantry. In 2024, I competed in Miss Maryland USA, placing Top 18 out of 110 contestants.
But stepping into that world, I quickly realized how few women looked like me—a Filipina-American and active-duty service member. That experience fueled my purpose: to challenge the stigma that pageant titleholders can’t serve in the military, and to prove that you can be both powerful in uniform and poised on stage.
This past February, I decided to join the USA ICON system and was honored to receive the title of Miss Maryland USA ICON. Throughout my pageant journey, I have been able to embrace all sides of who I am—as a Filipino-American, a Navy nurse, and a woman who believes that leadership comes in many forms. Pageantry has given me a platform to amplify voices, advocate for representation, and show others that you don’t have to fit a mold to make an impact. Whether I’m in scrubs, in uniform, or on stage, I lead with the same purpose: to serve, to uplift, and to inspire the next generation to step into spaces they never thought they belonged in—and own them.
If anyone feels inspired to support my journey, I’m gratefully accepting donations and sponsorships to help fund my road to the national USA ICON pageant. Every contribution goes toward travel, wardrobe, coaching, and community outreach as I proudly represent Maryland and continue using this platform to uplift others. If you’re interested in partnering or contributing, please feel free to reach out—your support means the world to me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, and I’m grateful for that. Some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced have come from being in spaces where I didn’t always see others who looked like me or shared my background. As a Filipino-American woman in the military and pageantry, I’ve had to navigate stereotypes, self-doubt, and the pressure to constantly prove that I belong.
Balancing active-duty service with the demands of nursing and pageant preparation hasn’t always been easy. There were moments I felt stretched thin, physically, emotionally, and mentally. But those moments taught me discipline, grace under pressure, and the importance of showing up fully, even when it’s hard.
What kept me grounded was remembering why I started: to honor my family’s legacy, to lead by example, and to create space for women like me who have been told they’re “too much” or “not enough.” Every struggle has shaped the woman I am today, and I wouldn’t change any of it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I currently serve as an active-duty Navy nurse stationed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where I specialize in neurology and transplant care. In this role, I’ve had the privilege of caring for some of our nation’s most complex and critically ill patients, providing both clinical expertise and emotional support during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. What I’m most proud of is how I’ve been able to serve with compassion and excellence while also using my platform to create impact beyond the hospital walls.
I’m also honored to hold the title of Miss Maryland USA ICON 2025, where I advocate for representation in service and leadership. I’ve partnered with elected officials, such as Senator Malcolm Augustine, to host community health fairs and increase access to resources for underserved populations.
What sets me apart is my ability to bridge multiple worlds; military and pageantry, medicine and advocacy, tradition and transformation. I’ve walked in New York Fashion Week, spoken at Arlington National Cemetery, and mentored young women entering service all while remaining deeply grounded in my values. My work is driven by the belief that women can lead in any space, wear any title, and honor every part of who they are.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I believe that risk-taking is often where growth begins. It’s rarely comfortable, but it’s where we’re pushed to discover who we truly are and what we’re capable of. I don’t necessarily see myself as a natural risk-taker, but I’ve learned that the most defining moments in my life have come from stepping outside of what felt safe or familiar.
One of the biggest risks I took was joining the United States Navy as a nurse. Coming from a family of service members, I understood the weight of the commitment but stepping into that responsibility as a Filipino-American woman, knowing I’d be serving in high-pressure environments far from home, was a leap of faith. Another big risk was entering the pageant world, where I didn’t see many women who looked like me or shared my background. But I knew that in taking that chance, I had the opportunity to expand the narrative and challenge stereotypes.
To me, risk isn’t about being fearless. It’s about being brave enough to move forward despite uncertainty, especially when it’s in service of a purpose greater than yourself. Whether in uniform or on stage, I’ve learned that choosing courage over comfort opens doors not just for yourself, but for the people watching who need to know it’s possible.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usaiconmissmaryland/?igsh=bHkwZ3BjcDJoeXkw&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/juliabaylosis/?igsh=M2MydjJvcDlid292&utm_source=qr
