Meet Felicia Gambino

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Felicia Gambino a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Felicia , so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I have to begin by saying that you certainly did not go easy on me with the list of questions to pick from. The reality is, I believe my story encases many of the questions that were asked and don’t necessarily only answer one question. However, in looking at all of the questions the one that spoke out the most to me is overcoming imposter syndrome, maybe because I believe that imposter syndrome isn’t something that ever truly goes away, but something that you learn to live with in this journey of life. Imposter syndrome is a reminder that you care about what it is that you’re doing, but when given too much power can certainly be something that limits you rather than empowers you.

Growing up as an Italian immigrant, and first generation American, working hard was something that I had no other choice to do. I didn’t have the generations before me that understood the path that I was on. I was paving a new way forward for my family tree, and as the oldest daughter, setting an example for my younger brothers. It was essential that no matter what I did, I did it as best as I possibly could, even if it meant creating my own success. But I would be lying if that didn’t mean I would often struggle with the question of whether or not everything I do would truly be enough.

As I grew older, there would be points in which the pressure created cracks in my own foundation, which led to burn out and struggles with my mental health. At times, it would be isolating, but I knew that I had to keep pushing forward because I had worked too hard in life to give up prematurely. I became more involved in volunteer activities, various jobs, devoted to my faith and my academics. Some may say I am a bit of an overachiever. But I say that I am an ambitious woman who wears many crowns, who has developed a love for the work and trust that success will pay out in the end.

In recent years, my involvement in the Miss America Opportunity has been my largest pursuit. The reality, is it is also the pursuit in which I am least successful. I was first intrigued by pageantry in my younger years, a guilty fan of Toddlers and Tiaras to which my mom was not because of the stereotypes that the show pushed regarding pageant girls. It was not until 2022 that spontaneity knocked on my door, and I found myself showing up to my first pageant rehearsal on an absolute whim. That first pageant, was a loss, as well as the next three years worth of pageants. With each one not even close to a potential win. What kept me going was the dedication to service in our community, and what led to the creation of The Magician’s Project, my community services initiative dedicated to suicide prevention through education, advocacy, and fundraising.

You see, hearing no again and again and again can take its toll in many ways. And yet, I kept going. I would be lying to say there weren’t many days where I wondered whether I could actually do it. But I finally did win my first title as Miss Pride of New York in 2025 and was surprised to still hear the “no’s” echo in my head despite having finally had my yes. Thoughts of whether or not I was even deserving of the job, whether I was doing a good job, or whether another individual could have done it better popped up more often than I cared to admit. Comparison and imposter syndrome can be a nasty game that steals away joy in the moments you’ve worked so hard for. And for me, it felt like imposter syndrome kept following me in every aspect of my life.

It wasn’t until quite recently that a mentor of mine took a spin on imposter syndrome that I hadn’t quite thought of before. As a second year graduate student at Columbia University pursuing a Masters in Clinical Social Work, I was expressing fears that I was not doing a good job with my clients and that there could be a possibility that I am not the right person to work with adolescence and their mental health. This mentor looked at me right in the eyes as she said “imposter syndrome is so beautiful.”

I was perplexed to say the least, but as she explained, it made more sense. People feel imposter syndrome over aspects of their life that they truly care about. They worry whether or not they are good enough for a job that all of life’s paths aligned in order for them to be in, whether it be in a professional setting, academics, or in my case pageantry. If it wasn’t meant for us, the universe or God (or whomever people are believing in nowadays) would simply tell us no. Trust me, I was told no more times than I can count. But there will come a point where we will get our yes, and it is exactly what it is that we are supposed to be doing at the time that we are supposed to be doing it. When that happens, it is only natural for us to doubt, we are human beings after all. But it is in that doubt that we are also reminded of the importance of what we are doing because we care about it. And it is in that caring that we can find reminders that the roles we are in, the crown that we wear, are ones that we are truly deserving of.

We care because we have a why for doing what we do. For me, it is to show that inner little girl that she did it, that inner teenager that it was worth all the mental breakdowns, that she created her own success, her own path forward. She broke glass ceilings with the points of her crown, her knowledge in mind and faith in heart. She learned that imposter syndrome isn’t something that needs to be dismantled, but understood so that we could walk alongside it rather than pushing against it, wasting time and efforts rather than moving forward. Imposter syndrome is a reminder of our whys, our purpose, and the care we have for the opportunities placed before us everyday.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I mentioned earlier how the Miss America Opportunity prompted the creation of The Magician’s Project, my community service initiative dedicated to suicide prevention. However, this project is more than just a “pageant platform” but a life mission. I am currently a full time graduate student at Columbia University pursuing my Masters in Social Work with a concentration in Advanced Clinical Practice and a specialization in Family and Youth Services. I aspire to dedicate my professional career to working on the improvement of mental health for youth across not just communities, but our country. Currently, The Magician’s Project is my stepping stone to that outreach and impact I aim to have. The project is divided into three pillars: Advocacy, Education, and Fundraising.

Education- In 2024, I launched my mission to deliver suicide prevention and mental health awareness workshops in every county across New York. From libraries to schools, I provide free educational programs through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, reaching residents across the state thanks to my partnerships with various AFSP, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), and Active Minds Chapters. In January 2025, I released my social media series The Magic Reset, a platform dedicated to exploring mental health topics, research, advocacy initiatives, and interviews from professionals in the field to #ResetTheStigma surrounding mental health.

Advocacy– Through collaboration with AFSP organization leaders and state legislators, I continue to expand AFSP’s advocacy outreach through initiatives such as Advocacy Days, community forums, and our annual State Capital Day in Albany. These events play a critical in advancing legislation that strengthens suicide prevention in New York State, including the installation of bridge barriers in the Hudson Valley, increased funding for 988, and expanded mental health services for CUNY and SUNY campuses.

Fundraise – As Executive Chair of the AFSP Staten Island Walk Committee, I lead a team of volunteers in organizing the annual Staten Island Out of Darkness Walk. In my role, I have raised more than $97,000 since launching The Magician’s Project in 2023. I coordinate numerous fundraisers and recruit sponsors whose support directly funds research aimed at better understanding suicide and mental illness. Developing this understanding is vital to building effective prevention efforts that serve our communities for all age groups and demographics.

There are many things that create excitement for me in the work that I do with The Magician’s Project, and in pursuing a degree that allows me to work as a mental health clinician. Above all else, seeing the positive impact I am having on both clients and the communities I am based in is at the top of the list. Listening to stories of those impacted by suicide and still choosing to heal, and even playing a small role as the therapist for an individual battling against their minds and seeing their growth, provides a sense of hope for the future of mental health that we can and will break down the walls society has built up against an important cause.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The first would be learning what it means to truly be healthy, both physically and mentally, while understanding that it will forever be a rollercoaster and balancing the two will be difficult at various points in life. It took a long time to build the necessary habits/tools to take care of my body and mind, including find the right therapist and support system to guide me through the ups and downs. The most important part is to trust yourself. If it is not working, it’s okay to try something else (or someone else if the case is therapy!). Also, trust the process. Things take time to adjust and show its impact, just because results aren’t immediate does not mean it won’t be there.

So many people will say one needs to have confidence to be successful but I challenge that with the notion that it is not confidence that one needs, but the quality of being fearless. For what is confidence? Erica Kramer says it best. Confidence is not something you can just purchase off of Amazon. Confidence is a Practice. Confidence is looking at what it is that you either have to or want to do, being scared to no end, and doing it anyway. Eventually doing the scary thing becomes easier, and that is where the confidence becomes developed. It’s never truly about having confidence, but about being fearless enough to develop it.

I keep a sign on my desk that provides the definition of ambition: a strong desire to do or to achieve something. But ambition is so much more than that. Ambition is being creative with out-of-the-box solutions, never allowing an idea to be considered too small or too big. Ambition is the fuel needed to keep going when things become overwhelming, disheartening, or everything in between. Ambition is necessary to achieving greatness. The biggest advice I can give in harnessing one’s own ambition is to stop selling yourself short. If you can think it, you can do it, because it was truly impossible, it would not have even been a thought.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am always open to partnerships and collaborations with individuals that share my similar passion for mental health advocacy. In the past, I was fortunate to partner with incredible organizations that have allowed me to travel across my state, and even across the country, to advocate for mental health initiatives, teach suicide prevention and mental health awareness workshops, and have opportunities to speak on why mental health is so important in today’s day and age. If anyone is interested in collaborating, they can always reach out on Instagram via @OfficialFeliciaGamb.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialfeliciagamb/
• Facebook: @OfficialFeliciaGamb
• Other: TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/officialfeliciagamb/

Image Credits

Christian Gueits (@IntrepridChuck on IG)