About Us
Miss Arizona USA Team
Sebastien Verstraet
State Director & Executive Producer
Sebastien is a seasoned pageant director, acclaimed photographer, and fashion show producer with an impressive background in the beauty and fashion industries. His professional experience includes producing runway shows for New York Fashion Week and founding Tempe Fashion Week, further establishing his reputation as a creative force and leader in event production.
Pageantry is dear to his heart. It has helped countless women gain confidence, grow, and challenge themselves. He has witnessed firsthand the transformation that occurs through this experience, and he is honored to continue empowering women to pursue their goals and realize that there are no limits to what they can achieve.
Sebastien is committed to promoting a culture of inclusivity and empowerment. Under his leadership, the Miss Arizona USA program will continue to elevate and celebrate diversity, redefine beauty standards, and provide a platform where women feel seen, heard, and valued.
Joecelynn Soto
Co-Director
Fueled by purpose and a passion for growth, Joecelynn Soto has transformed her pageant and creative experience into a platform for empowerment. She began her journey in pageantry at a young age, where she discovered not only her confidence but the voice she always had. That experience ignited a desire to help others do the same and ultimately led her to step behind the scenes. By 19, she was directing pageants and finding purpose in developing others.
In 2020, Joecelynn founded Corella & Co., a modeling development school she built alongside her business partner Gia, to educate, inspire, and uplift young talent. Her work spans photography, fashion production, and brand development, and she’s guided countless titleholders and pageant contestants in stepping into their confidence and presenting the best version of themselves.
A firm believer in the power and purpose of the sport of pageantry, Joecelynn is excited to bring fresh energy, leadership, and vision to Miss Arizona USA. Her mission is to help elevate the program and prepare strong, authentic representatives for the Miss USA stage.
Gia Neri
Co-Director
Gia brings a dynamic blend of business acumen and industry expertise to her role as Co-Director of the Miss Arizona USA pageant. With a distinguished background in model and talent development, she is the co-founder of Corella&Co a renowned model development company committed to transforming aspiring talent into confident, professional, and high-caliber individuals ready to thrive in the fashion, commercial, and pageant worlds.
A respected leader in business, modeling and pageant industry, Gia also served in directing pageants, where she was honored with the Director of the Year award along side her Co-Director Joecelynn for outstanding leadership and impact. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to mentoring and empowering models and titleholders, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and poise needed to succeed both on and off the stage.
Her strategic vision and passion for excellence continue to shape the future of modeling and pageantry in Arizona, as she helps to elevate the Miss Arizona USA organization and its titleholders to new heights.
