Magazine-Winter-2025 - Flipbook - Page 56
B A M A P EOPL E
“For me, Alabama helped me find my
voice and my purpose. It gave me the
courage to be bold.”
Be Bold Co., a custom hat and
accessories business she runs with
her mom.
“Be Bold started in April 2024
because I wanted people to feel
confident in their own style,” Rose
said. “We do pop-ups where
customers design their own
hats, and pick patches, and we
press them right there. It’s fun,
it’s personal, and every hat tells a
story.”
The idea grew from her love
of design and her grandfather’s
penchant for wearing hats. “We
wanted people to feel bold in
whatever they wear,” she said of
how the company got its name.
“Whether it’s a kid, a college
student or someone’s grandparent,
everyone can be bold.”
From local pop-ups in
Tuscaloosa to events back home
in Illinois, Be Bold Co. has quickly
built a loyal following. “It’s surreal
to see people walking around
wearing something they made
with us,” she said. “That’s what it’s
about.”
Her passion for connection
doesn’t stop at business. Rose
also runs a nonprofit, Fostering
Rose being recognized by the State of
Illinois as Miss Quincy.
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ALABAMA ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Hope, which supports foster
children and families. Adopted
herself at 4 days old, she’s turned
her personal story into advocacy,
helping more than 500 kids and
raising $55,000 to provide school
supplies, clothes and duffel bags
for children in transition. She’s
delivered speeches on the Illinois
House floor and is even working
with lawmakers in Illinois on a bill
that would provide a duffel bag,
backpack or suitcase to any foster
child in the area.
Through it all, Rose’s Bama
experience remains central. As
a member of Phi Mu, she found
lifelong friendships and a platform
to grow. She also sees how her
viral Bama Rush moment fits
perfectly into the Crimson Tide
spirit.
“When people think of Alabama,
they think of legends,” she said.
“For me, Alabama helped me find
my voice and my purpose. It gave
me the courage to be bold.”
With graduation on the horizon,
Rose looks ahead to a career in
public relations and politics, hoping
to blend creativity, advocacy and
leadership. But no matter where
she goes next, her message will
remain the same.
“You don’t need permission to
go after what you want,” she said.
“Start that business. Tell your story.
Be bold, because the world needs
more people who aren’t afraid to
be themselves.”
