About Raquel Riley Thomas Export

Raquel Riley Thomas is a CEO, Martial Artist, U.S. Army Officer (Veteran) and Humanitarian. She is the Owner/CEO of An Officer and Gentlewoman, LLC, a global media and entertainment company.

Professional Life:

• 1990: Raquel is a decorated military veteran, having served nine years in the U.S. Army (5-years Enlisted photojournalist; 4-years Ordnance Officer) until 2002.

• 2002: After hanging up her military boots, she started her first business, Photography By Raquel, LLC. She photographed actors, celebrities, Jet magazine swimsuit centerfolds and more.

• 2002: Raquel also became a professional model signed to Elite Model Management and later Ford Model NYC as a commercial model. She is currently signed to Select Models. She has been featured in over 125 plus print and TV commercial projects such as Coke, Wells Fargo, Delta, 1-800-Contacts and many other fortune 500 companies.

• 2010: Raquel decided to compete in a pageant to show her daughters a princess could look like them. She won the title of Mrs. Maryland America 2010. She went to the national level and won Mrs. America 2011 (1st RU), the first African American to get to that level in Mrs. America pageant system.

• 2011: Raquel started An Officer and Gentlewoman LLC, (AOAGWLLC). The company has division in Talent mgmt., Brand mgmt., Public Relations, and Production services. The company has won over 75 awards in DC, Maryland and Georgia.

• 2020: Raquel launched her new subsidiary, Raquel Riley Thomas Beauty (RRTBeauty). The brand is a performance-based makeup brand for those who need long-wear makeup. She dissolved the business in 2025.

• 2025: Raquel was crowned Elite Mrs. Nigeria Queen of the World 2025.

• 2025: Raquel was crowned Elite Queen of the World 2025 on May 10, 2025. This is her 6th beauty queen title.

• Additional duties: Raquel Riley Thomas is a Beauty and Fashion expert. She has been a television commentator on FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS and Reelz. Notable commentating includes Oscar's Fashion, Emmy's Fashion, and most recently Reelz: The Kate Spade Story. She has been featured in dozens of magazines to include Forbes (LA), Cosmopolitan, USA News, Style Cruze, Fitness, Washingtonian, WashingtonLife, and Military Times, to list a few.

Education:

• 1990: Graduated from the Defense Information School of Technology

• 1994: Primary Leadership Development Course, Tague Korea

• 1998: Distinguished Military Graduate from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Hampton University

• 1998: B/A degree in Psychology from Hampton University

• 1998: Officer Leadership Course

• 2019: Certification in Mastery of Negotiations from Harvard Business School

• 2025: Red belt in Taekwondo, training to become a black belt Master

Community Life:

• The Publicist for the Southeast Chapter of the Emmys.

• Advisory Board member of Operation Renewed Hope Foundation

• A member of Veterans of Foreign War

• A member of Veteran’s in Media

• A Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc

• Supporter of the American Federation of Suicide Prevention, because unfortunately, her Raquel’s mother took her own life by suicide in 2013.

• DefendRILEY: Unfortunately, Raquel’s mother took her life by suicide in 2013. Raquel later found out her mother had been assaulted. Raquel, a red belt in Taekwondo, has now launched an initiative that provides hands on self-defense training and personal safety education to women and girls worldwide. Raquel currently assists in teaching children through a national Taekwondo program through her instructor Master Tommy Cho.  

Military and Civilian Awards Highlights:

(For full list contact pr@aoagwllc.com)

• Raquel Riley Thomas is inducted into the Library of Congress for her military service.

• U.S. Army Commendation Medal (2x)

• U.S. Army Achievement Medal (3x).

• 2011 Mrs. America (1st Runner-up) (Note: First ever African-American woman to reach that position in the Mrs. America organization)

• 2022 Consumer Goods Technology (CGT) Visionary

• 2022 Entrepreneur Business Startup Award for Raquel Riley Thomas Cosmetics from The Rosie Network

• 2023 “Most Influential Women in Atlanta” 2023 by The Atlantan, Modern Luxury

• 2024 President’s Volunteer Service Award (Lifetime)

  Personal Life:

• Raquel Riley Thomas is a native of Maryland.

• She is married to West Point graduate Ron Thomas, Esq. (who has never lost to Navy in his football career). They have been married since 2006. Collectively, they lead a diversified multi-million dollar business portfolio spanning medical supply distribution and global media and entertainment.

• They have two daughters together: Maria is majoring in aerospace engineering and Sophia is a celebrity teen chef. They also have a dog, cat and a few robots that Maria Raquel built.

Follow on Social Media:

• Follow Raquel on Instagram @raquelrileythomas.

• Follow Raquel Riley Thomas Beauty on Instagram @rrtbeauty.

Contact:

• For speaking engagements and press interviews, please contact L. Nelson at pr@aoagwllc.com.  

• For modeling projects, contact Select Models Atlanta | Agent Lois Thigpen | lois@selectmodel.com