Angelena Taylor's caregiving journey began quite unexpectedly at the age of 28 when her father, Benjamin, experienced a stroke. This event marked the start of her role as a caregiver, which she took on with dedication and focus. As a daughter and military caregiver, Angelena balanced her responsibilities with her Miss USA World Universal Ambassador title, using each role to support the other.

Early on, Angelena faced skepticism from medical professionals who doubted her capability. However, she quickly proved them wrong by advocating strongly for her father's care, ensuring he received the treatment she believed was best. Her father's recovery became a central part of her life, and Angelena managed the ups and downs with determination. She navigated through the medical system, learning and adapting along the way to ensure that her father received the best possible care.

Angelena didn't set aside her dreams and goals even with her caregiving duties. She pursued her aspirations in pageantry, seeing it as an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges and needs of military caregivers. Her role as Miss USA World Universal Ambassador allowed her to speak out on these issues, bringing them to a broader audience and creating a platform for others in similar positions to feel seen and heard.

Angelena's commitment to her father and advocacy work reminds her of the strength and dedication required in caregiving roles. Her journey is not just about overcoming obstacles but also about finding balance and purpose. Her story encourages others who are navigating similar paths, showing that it's possible to manage caregiving duties while pursuing personal goals with determination and support.

About Angelena:

Angelena Taylor is a proud daughter, military caregiver, cat mom, world traveler, and reigning Ms. USA World Universal Ambassador. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Angelena works part-time as a behavior analyst. Still, her most prominent and favorite role to date has been as a caregiver for over 8 years to her father, Benjamin, who is a stroke survivor and veteran. Becoming a caregiver at the age of 28 without much assistance or support birthed Angelena's passion for advocating for her fellow caregivers and restructuring the care infrastructure. She has been heavily involved as a fellow with organizations such as Caring Across Generations and The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, where she has connected with hundreds of other caregivers, collaborated with elected officials, and more. Featured in The New York Times and on The Tamron Hall Show, Angelena’s story is one of 53 million caregivers (and an estimated 5.5 million military caregivers) in the USA with the special redemption song of winning the prestigious title of Ms. USA Ambassador 2023. Angelena created Crown the Caregiver as a platform of awareness and advocacy in the caregiving community and plans to launch services as a Certified Caregiving Specialist in the near future

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Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver

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