Sarah Lopez has spent her life learning how to hold an audience—whether it was a classroom full of restless teens, a boardroom in crisis, or a theme park crowd waiting for the show to begin. In her professional career, she has worked as a communications strategist, helping leaders find the right words in the hardest moments, including C-suite executives, school superintendents, and professionals across sectors. She has shaped community trust through ghostwritten messages, delivered sound bites, and prepared leaders for media appearances on local, state, and national news.
Her work has earned ten awards from the California School Public Relations Association and recognition from the National School Public Relations Association.
This memoir marks a new chapter—the first time she tells her story in her own voice. A dynamic speaker for nearly two decades, she has captivated audiences with candor, wit, and heart, making resilience feel not just possible, but personal. Her unlikely journey from a child con artist to a Miss America Organization titleholder launched her onto the stage in 2008. Since then she has addressed thousands—challenging them to see their setbacks not as scars, but as stepping stones toward success.
Her presence has extended beyond the podium. For ten years, Lopez hosted a weekly beauty and style segment on Napa Valley TV, where her approachable voice and relatable perspective built a loyal local following. She also spent eleven years as a show announcer for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, where her energy, humor, and authenticity captivated hundreds of thousands of guests.
Having spent a lifetime giving voice to others, Lopez now speaks her own truth in her memoir, I Chose to Be Here.
Sarah Lopez 