YLA leadership project spotlight: Mia

As a 2025-26 YLA Fellow, Mia is working on leading and growing her LP, Project Unlaced, to break down harmful body expectations for young girls, especially as athletes. Learn about how she is taking on this challenge and lifting other young leaders up with her!

Before the YLA, I had never considered myself to be a changemaker, but as I met the amazing people in my cohort during the Washington D.C. intensive, I realized that young people can create real meaningful change. The YLA gave me the inspiration, resources, and support to turn my struggle with an eating disorder into Project Unlaced, an initiative dedicated to breaking the silence around body image and eating disorders.

For instance, the YLA taught me how to be more confident when doing outreach. This allowed me to start a podcast and lead workshops with several high school athletic teams. I am so grateful for the people who I met through the YLA. In particular, my mentor, Mona Cho, has been incredible by always offering thoughtful guidance from her own experiences and challenging me to think bigger. Her belief in me has been one of the most meaningful parts of this entire experience.

With that support behind me, I’m now excited to take the next step: launching Project Unlaced’s Athlete Ally Network, a new way for students to become advocates in their own communities.

To learn more or get involved, visit projectunlaced.org or follow us on Instagram @project_unlaced.