Jean Carlo Salazar chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about representing Connecticut in the 2025 Mister USA.
American author and speaker John C. Maxwell once said: ““Dreams don’t work unless you do.” This quote applies to Jean Carlo Salazar.
Background on Jean Carlo Salazar
Salazar is an immigrant, healthcare advocate, and somebody who is very passionate about raising awareness on mental health. He was born in Colombia and is now a proud American citizen. Salazar’s journey has been shaped and molded by overcoming personal and professional obstacles, which include his experiences as an immigrant facing adversity. In addition, he enjoys playing the piano, modeling, and acting.
2025 Mister USA competition
Mister USA is an American beauty pageant, which is held annually, and the winner goes on to represent the United States in the Mister Universe competition. It is a celebration of culture, diversity, beauty, intelligence and empowerment. They believe in the power of young leaders to make a difference in the world. It is not solely about outer beauty; it recognizes the inner beauty and intelligence of their contestants.
“I am very excited about Mister USA,” he said. “I am very much looking forward to it.”
Representing Connecticut
On representing Connecticut, which is dubbed as at “The Constitution State,” Salazar stated, “It feels amazing to be repping Connecticut. I am beyond elated to be a part of this contest. It is going to open so many doors. I am just very excited and ready for the challenge, and what is to come.”
“Repping Connecticut means the world to me,” he admitted. “I was born and raised in Colombia, but I came here when I was 10 years old, so I’ve been in Connecticut nearly 17 years. This is where I learned English. I did not know a world of English when I came to the U.S. This is where I spent my whole time in school, middle school, high school and then, college.”
Jean Carlo Salazar: The Nurse
“I have been able to work in multiple health systems within Connecticut. It means the world to me to be able to represent this state, which has been my home, and it has given me opportunities to grow. It is such a privilege to represent it.”
“I have my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing (BSN), and I am currently in the process of getting my Master’s degree as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I am also a board-certified ICU nurse,” he elaborated.
Daily motivations
Each day, Salazar is motivated by overcoming obstacles and challenges. “Without challenge, I would not have motivation. Without an obstacle to get through, or a mountain to cross, it would be difficult to be and stay motivated,” he noted.
“Ever since I came to this country, it has been about survival and it has been about challenges, and that has been difficult. Looking back, I endured these challenges, and I made something out of it instead of victimizing myself,” he said.
Jean Carlo Salazar: An advocate of raising awareness for nurses
He revealed that his advocacy is to create a platform for nurses in the healthcare field. “Nurses are the catalysts of the healthcare system, and as we know today, the healthcare system is suffering, and this is not news, especially with nurses,” he acknowledged.
“Every single day, the nursing shortage is getting bigger and stronger, unfortunately, and we need to raise awareness before we don’t have any nurses left,” he noted.
Future plans
On his future plans, he shared, “Right now, I want to be able to go to Mister USA and give it my all and give it my best. I want to excel in that, and I want to bring on a platform and do some advocacy work with the organization. I want to create a platform for the healthcare workers on the frontlines and nurses.”
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Salazar revealed, “Transformation.”
“I am in my ‘Metamorphosis’ stage,” he said. “I’ve been transforming in the last year, and it’s because I have been challenged time and time again.”
Salazar is a firm believer of the following lyric from the Taylor Swift song “The 1”: “If you never bleed, you’re never gonna grow.”
Superpower of choice
When asked about his superpower of choice, he shared, “To be a leader and do actual change for people in need, especially nurses.” “I am very passionate about nurses, and I hope Mister USA helps me by giving me a platform to do something about this,” he said.
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, he said, “Honoring the hard work that not only I’ve put in as an individual, but the hard work that other people have put into me as well.”
“We are not all self-made; we all got here because of something else and someone else, and we need to credit those people that have helped us get where we are today,” he concluded.
To learn more about 2025 Mister Connecticut contestant Jean Carlo Salazar, follow him on Instagram.
