Michelle Lyons grew up in South Los Angeles, having attended the prestigious New Road High School in Santa Monica before graduating from Hamilton High School at 16. A third-generation college graduate, Michelle earned a degree in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Upon finishing her studies, Michelle lived abroad in Brazil, Italy, and Barbados, where she improved her Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese and recognized that constitutional freedoms are not guaranteed and must be championed and protected.
At the age of 25, Michelle’s impressive language skills led to her being hired as the Director of Advocacy for The Washington Times Newspaper in Washington D.C. After working for the paper, she was hired as the executive director of Barbizon Modeling and Acting School. Seven years later in 2016, Michelle opened her own modeling school in Century City, specializing in building self-confidence and breaking down barriers in the modeling industry. Her motto was “Beauty Comes in All Shapes and Sizes,” and she became one of the first people to bring plus size and kid models onto some of the largest fashion weeks in the World. Her clientele includes 100 independent contractors in 30 states, models from over 10 countries, and a long list of A-list celebrities with whom she has collaborated.
In 2016, she joined The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and became Chair of Beverly High School the following year. Michelle is driven, ambitious, and passionate about children and education and believes in school choice.
During the pandemic, while the modeling industry was shut down, Michelle was baptized and became an ordained minister. She also wrote for three newspapers and volunteered with several homeless organizations as she began to redirect her life towards serving the public as a future Congresswoman.
The aftermath of the 2020 presidential election led Michelle to the realization that America has become increasingly polarized, and that her core beliefs match those of a conservative. After being an independent for 2 decades, Michelle has publicly declared herself as a Republican.
The daughter of former Los Angeles Lakers’ cheerleader, and renowned Chef, Marilyn Cole and criminal defense attorney Dr. Michael Lyons, JD, Michelle Lyons believes everything in her life has prepared her for this moment-- she is undoubtedly a FEARLESS LEADER. Michelle comes from a family dedicated to military service. Her grandfather served in the Korean war and graduated from USC; her uncle served in the Vietnam War.