How a First-Generation Student’s Public Health Journey Led Her to a Crown

Miss Newark USA 2024 Osasenaga Iyamu has challenged societal expectations and carved a path that intertwines public health, pageantry and mentorship

Osasenaga Iyamu’s story is one of resilience, courage and purpose.

As a student at the Rutgers School of Public Health, Iyamu is earning her Master of Public Health degree in Environmental Health Sciences in May 2025.

Iyamu’s journey to public health was shaped by a series of academic and professional experiences. She began her undergraduate studies in 2016 at the University of Hartford in a seven-year chemistry/pre-pharmacy program but soon realized her path was shifting.

“Preventative measures are not heavily discussed or sought after in the healthcare field,” Iyamu said. “Furthermore, when a new cure or treatment to an illness is discovered, it is not as easily accessible to those in dire need of it. These companies mostly hide it from the public, which does not align with my values and morals. I couldn’t be at peace with myself if I pursued such a path.”

In 2018, Iyamu faced a setback in her academic journey when she could not continue her undergraduate program due to losing passion for her original career path and the pressures of being a first-generation student.

“As a first-born daughter to immigrant parents living in America — and I say this for all first-born daughters to immigrant parents — you’re constantly navigating multiple challenges simultaneously,” said Iyamu, whose family is from Nigeria. “Academic, cultural, societal and more. It’s not easy.”

In 2018, Iyamu returned to her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, to continue her education at Essex County College, where she earned her associate’s degree in 2019. During her studies, she worked as a summer teaching assistant for the Rutgers Geoscience Scholars Institute. There, she explored the connections between environmental systems and human health, an experience that challenged her to think more holistically about public health and sparked a passion for environmental science.

Determined to align her career with her values, Iyamu transferred to Rutgers University–Newark later in 2019, enrolling in a dual-degree bachelor of science and master of public health program. She specialized in environmental sciences with a second concentration in health and safety, beginning graduate-level coursework in 2021 while completing her undergraduate degree. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 2022 and fully matriculated into the Rutgers School of Public Health later that year.

Additionally, her experiences in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly while working as a pharmacy technician during the COVID-19 pandemic, further reinforced her decision to pursue public health. Now, at 27, Iyamu remains committed to advocating for the well-being of underserved communities.

“The most pivotal [moment] was when I immersed myself into the pharmaceutical world, mostly by working as a pharmacy technician, and I learned that these companies prioritized profit over the well-being of people and only reaffirmed I made the correct choice shifting to public health,” Iyamu said.

Seeking Sustainability in Public Health

Guided by Rutgers School of Public Health faculty and staff, including her adviser Samantha Gonnelli, academic support counselor, and her mentors, Wendy Purcell, professor and vice chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice, and Sarah Kelly, assistant dean for student experiences and alumni affairs, she narrowed her focus to sustainability as a lens for addressing public health challenges.

“Sustainability is a broad field that touches everyone,” Iyamu said.

She also pursued the Rutgers School of Public Health’s United Nations and Global Public Health Certificate, broadening her understanding of health disparities and systemic barriers beyond the United States. This decision was influenced by her participation in a study abroad program with the Rutgers School of Public Health and Harokopio University in Greece, where she took the course Food and the Mediterranean Culture. Alongside Rutgers and Harokopio students, she explored sustainability through the lens of diet, nutrition and lifestyle. The two-week program strengthened her commitment to addressing health disparities through an environmental and cultural perspective.

“Taking this course confirmed that I had finally found my niche and passion, which is sustainability, because it acknowledged, embraced and focused on the interconnectedness between the environment, economy and public health,” said Iyamu.

Iyamu’s passion for sustainability is also deeply rooted in her experiences living in Newark, where environmental and public health disparities are stark. Raised in a Nigerian household where waste was never an option, Iyamu learned the importance of repurposing resources and finding sustainable solutions.

“Growing up in Newark, I would see how this city and other inner cities were always treated as last priority or neglected by governments,” she said. “This would cost several lives and further harm to our environment. One of the major issues was lead being in our water supply and severely contaminated flooding. It would affect hundreds of families, including mine.”

These challenges only reinforced Iyamu’s admiration of the city’s strength.

“Newark is rich with history, culture, stories and values,” she said. “It is filled with so much hidden talent, especially in our younger generations, and it’s amazing how much beauty and creativity shines through despite the hardships and lack of resources we may face over time.”

Pageantry as a Platform for Change

Iyamu’s academic and professional experiences had already led her to think deeply about identity, empowerment and how societal expectations shaped people’s opportunities. It was these reflections that guided her into the world of pageantry — a platform where she could share her story, challenge stereotypes, and embrace her authentic self.

Initially skeptical, Iyamu’s perspective on beauty pageants shifted after meeting empowering women, such as Derby Chukwudi, Miss New Jersey USA 2023, and Ketsia Koffi, Miss Côte D’Ivoire USA 2023. “I have learned that it is okay to embrace your beauty, but it is even more powerful to be one with grace, poise, intentionality, ambition and purpose,” Iyamu said. “You can move mountains and reach others seeking hope by simply sharing your story.”

Encouraged by a close friend who had competed before, Iyamu decided to enter the Miss Newark USA pageant. But long before stepping onto the stage, she had already made a powerful statement about self-acceptance and identity.

In 2019, shortly after returning from the University of Hartford, Iyamu shaved her head—a deeply personal act rooted in a period of intense self-reflection. As the eldest daughter in a Nigerian-American household, she had long felt the weight of expectations around education, beauty, and success. Her thick, natural hair had been a source of pride and a shield, conforming to societal and cultural standards that she had struggled to embrace. But at a time when she felt lost, shedding it became a symbolic reintroduction to herself.

“Cutting my hair was my personal revolution,” she said. “A rebellion against cultural and societal beauty standards. A declaration of self-love.”

When she later competed in the pageant, she did so with the confidence that her worth wasn’t tied to her outward appearance. “Your crown is still on your head even if you don’t have hair to accessorize,” she said.

Facing her fears paid off: Iyamu was crowned Miss Newark USA on August 10, 2024.

“As a proud South Ward, Newark native, I have the privilege to represent what is often overlooked and stigmatized about this very city,” she said.

With her title, Iyamu has taken on a role that extends beyond the pageant stage. She participates in public speaking engagements, community events and initiatives celebrating Newark’s vibrancy and resilience. Recently, she took part in a celebrity read event at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, sharing the joy of storytelling with young students. She is also working to amplify environmental justice efforts in the city, such as collaborating with the South Ward Environmental Alliance and local restaurants in Downtown Newark to bring greater visibility to sustainability initiatives.

Beyond pageantry and higher education, Iyamu’s recent experiences in mentorship highlight the impact of guiding and advocating for others. She enjoys speaking at events in her hometown, where she regularly shares her journey as a first-generation student and encourages younger generations to pursue their dreams.

“I want to pass on that wisdom of finding your way through college as a first-gen, first-born, inner-city kid to others who share the same desire to achieve their dreams, follow their purpose, and impact others,” she said.

Iyamu is now in a period of intentional rest and reflection. After earning her associate, bachelor and master degrees as well as the Miss Newark USA title, she understands the importance of self-care.

“Rest,” she said. “I have chosen to take a break from striving for anything else at this point. A new assignment and season require a refreshed, wiser, and more disciplined version of myself, and that is what I intend to become.”