The visionary founder behind An Officer and GentleWoman, LLC (AOAGWLLC), a distinguished global media and entertainment company delivering white-glove service. With over 30 years of media expertise, Raquel has made an indelible mark in the Corporate, Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle, Celebrity, and Music Industry.
Raquel Riley Thomas
Owner and CEO
Martial Artist
Beauty Queen
Professional
Raquel Riley Thomas is a decorated U.S. Army Veteran and former Captain, award-winning entrepreneur, and international pageant queen committed to empowering women through self-defense, leadership, and advocacy. Crowned Elite Queen of the World 2025 on May 10th in New York City, Raquel embodies resilience, elegance, and purpose.
A former U.S. Army Captain, she served nine years in the military and has since been inducted into the Library of Congress for her leadership and community impact.
Raquel is the Founder and CEO of An Officer and Gentlewoman, LLC (AOAGWLLC), a veteran-owned global media and entertainment company she launched in 2011. The firm operates four divisions—Public Relations, Brand Management, Talent Management, and Production—and has earned over 75 awards, including recognition as Best Media and Entertainment Company in both Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.
As a professional model, Raquel has been represented by Elite Models, Ford Models, and Select Models, appearing in more than 125 campaigns for global brands including Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, and Wells Fargo. Her image has appeared on numerous billboards, print ads, and magazine covers across the U.S. and abroad. She is featured in publications such as Vanity Fair Fashion, Forbes LA, Cosmopolitan Canada, Washington Life, and Military Times.
In 2020, she expanded her entrepreneurial reach with Raquel Riley Thomas Beauty (RRTBeauty), a performance-based makeup line for long-wear durability. Its debut collection, The Virtuoso, sold out within its first month. She dissolved the company in 2025.
As a Beauty and Fashion Expert, Raquel has appeared on FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Reelz, offering commentary for events like the Oscars and Emmys. 
As Featured In
-
![]()
Forbes, Los Angeles
-
![]()
Vogue, Monaco
-
![]()
Cosmopolitan, Canada
-
![]()
Style
Education
Raquel is a lifelong learner with a strong foundation in leadership and negotiations.
1990: Graduated from Defense Information School of Technology and became a photojournalist for the U.S. Army.
1998: Distinguished Military Graduate from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Hampton University.
1995: Graduated from Officer’s Leadership Course
1998: Earned her degree in Psychology from Hampton University
2019: Earned certification from Harvard Business School in Mastery of Negotiations
2025: Advanced Level Martial Artist- Taekwondo (Red belt with Black Strip)
Community
DefendRILEY: Fight Back. Stand Strong. Stay Safe.
After the devastating loss of her mother to suicide in 2013, Raquel discovered that her mother was a survivor of assault—a truth that mirrored her own trauma. Determined to transform her pain into purpose, she founded DefendRILEY, an initiative dedicated to empowering women and girls through self-defense and personal safety education. As a Taekwondo red belt, Raquel mentors and instructs young students, promoting confidence, focus, and resilience.
Her goal is to earn her black belt and expand DefendRILEY into a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships and hands-on training to communities worldwide. In addition to her advocacy work, Raquel serves as Publicist for the Southeast Chapter of the Emmys and as an Advisory Board Member for Operation Renewed Hope Foundation, supporting veteran housing and mental wellness. She is also a proud member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Veterans in Media, and a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she champions scholarship, service, and social justice.
Awards and Recognitions
Raquel’s leadership and impact have been honored across both military and civilian spheres.
Her legacy is preserved in the Library of Congress, and her accolades include:
2025 Forbes (LA) Feature
2025 Vanity Fair Feature
2025 Vogue (Monaco) Feature
2024 Champion for Charity | Community Advocate
2024 President’s Volunteer Award (Lifetime)
2023 Best Entrepreneur Award | The Global Beauty Awards
2023 Most Influential Women in Atlanta 2023 by The Atlantan, Modern Luxury
2023 HBCU Alumni Highlight of Entrepreneurs in Upscale Magazine Feb/March 2023
2022 Selected as Consumer Goods Technology (CGT) Visionary
2022 Entrepreneur Business Startup Award for Raquel Riley Thomas Cosmetics from The Rosie Network
2011 “Veteran of the Year" 2011, by Women Veteran’s Rock
Army Commendation Medal (2x)
Army Achievement Medal (3x)
Titled “Leader of the Future,” by Ebony Magazine
Washington Business Journal “People on the Move”
