Imani Jean

2:45 p.m.

Imani Jean is an 11-year-old rising 6th grader and the beloved daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hayward and Starlette Jean. The youngest of three siblings, she looks up to her big brothers, Micah and Malachi, while forging her own extraordinary path.

A dedicated academic scholar, Imani consistently earns Honor Roll and Principal's List recognition. She recently served as the manager of her Elementary school’s Broadcasting and Journalism Academy (BAJA) from 3-5th grade. She is a trusted school ambassador and has been identified by the South Carolina Department of Education as a Gifted and Talented student. Imani is also the author of Imani’s Voice, Imani’s Victory—a powerful book that chronicles her inspiring journey to becoming a national speech champion, overcoming obstacles that could have stood in her way.

As a scholar-athlete, Imani was a cheerleader for her school and was honored with the “Most Encouraging” award for her positive spirit. She also played volleyball with the Orangeburg Lady Cubs, balancing academics and athletics with grace.

Imani’s passion lies in empowering her peers and others through motivational speaking and positive messaging, both in person and across social media platforms. She is the reigning and immediate past champion of multiple public speaking competitions, including:

School-level Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech Winner 
District-level MLK Oratory Competition Winner 
2X South Carolina Junior Beta Club Speech State Champion (2024 and 2025) 
2X National Junior Beta Club Speech Champion (2024 and 2025)

Her YouTube channel, Imani Inspires, shares uplifting messages and is the namesake of her growing personal platform.

Imani dreams of hosting a girls’ empowerment conference in the future. In her free time, she volunteers at her church and enjoys singing, traveling, and spending quality time with her family. She plans to attend Claflin University and pursue a career in mass communications. Her favorite quote is: “Don't Just Have a Dream, but be the Dream!”