Raquel Riley Thomas

Raquel Riley Thomas is a U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, international pageant titleholder, and humanitarian with a career spanning more than three decades in military service, media, entertainment, and advocacy. Thomas served as a photojournalist in the U.S. Army for five years and as an ordnance captain for four years, earning multiple military honors, including the U.S. Army Commendation Medal and the U.S. Army Achievement Medal. She graduated from Hampton University as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Reserve Officer Training Corps, earning a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, and later completed a mastery of negotiation certification from Harvard University. Her military history is preserved in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

Following her honorable discharge, Thomas transitioned to entrepreneurship, launching Photography By Raquel, LLC, where she photographed actors, celebrities, and Jet magazine swimsuit centerfolds. She later pursued modeling, working with Elite Model Management and Ford Model NYC. Thomas entered the pageant world, winning the title of Mrs. Maryland America and becoming the first African American to achieve first runner-up in the Mrs. America pageant system. She has held multiple pageant titles, including Elite Queen of the World at the Queen of the World pageant in New York City.

Thomas founded An Officer and Gentlewoman, LLC (AOAGWLLC), a media and entertainment company with divisions in public relations, brand management, talent management, and production. The company has produced pageants in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and at the Kennedy Center, and has received numerous industry awards. As a beauty and fashion expert, Thomas has appeared as a television commentator on FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Reelz, providing insights on events such as the Oscars and Emmys and appearing in Reelz's "The Kate Spade Story." Her work has been featured in magazines including USA News, Style Cruze, Fitness, Washingtonian, Washington Life, and Military Times.

Thomas also launched Raquel Riley Thomas Beauty (RRTBeauty), a minority- and veteran-owned cosmetics brand offering long-wear makeup designed for demanding professions. The brand's first collection, "The Virtuoso," sold out upon release. Motivated by personal experience, Thomas established DefendRILEY, an initiative providing self-defense training and personal safety education for women and girls. As a red belt in taekwondo, she mentors and instructs young students through a national taekwondo program.

Thomas has received recognition across industries, including being named Veteran of the Year by Women Veteran's Rock, Leader of the Future by Ebony Magazine, and People on the Move by Washington Business Journal. She has also been listed among the Most Influential Women in Atlanta by The Atlantan and Modern Luxury, and received the Entrepreneur Business Startup Award for Raquel Riley Thomas Cosmetics from The Rosie Network. As a keynote speaker, Thomas addresses topics such as business, empowerment, entrepreneurship, health, leadership, lifestyle, motivation, personal growth, and women's issues.