07/23/2026
There was a time when meeting someone like Marina felt almost impossible.
Like we lived in completely different worlds.
For years, I followed her journey from afar. I admired the life she was building, the way she carried herself, and the example she set for so many women - including me.
I even remember writing in one of my journals that I hoped I'd meet her one day.
Ironically, it was one of Marina's posts about Mrs. Globe that inspired me to apply.
One morning, before the day's Mrs. Globe events, I was having breakfast when I looked to my left and saw her walking into the restaurant.
I got up from the table, walked over, and hugged her.
We talked for a minute. And suddenly, those two worlds didn't feel so far apart anymore.
Maybe the people we admire aren't meant to stay on the other side of a screen forever.
They're real people, living real lives, sharing breakfast, laughing with friends, and doing the best they can - just like the rest of us.
Meeting Marina wasn't special simply because I admired her. It was special because it reminded me that the dreams we quietly write down in our journals have a way of becoming real when we keep showing up for our own lives.
Years ago, I hoped our paths would cross.
That morning, they did.
And that's a memory I'll carry with me for a very long time. ❤️
Masha Shipp, CHt | Hypnotherapist