JLL manager looks to be crowned Miss USA

Some real estate professionals take time off to travel, others spend time with family and friends.

But Savena Mushinge, a transaction manager at JLL, is taking a week to compete in the Miss USA competition, BisNow reported. She qualified for the competition by winning the Miss Maryland USA pageant in April.

By day, Mushinge manages leases for the U.S. Postal Service facilities, working on numerous deals from JLL’s D.C. office. And she spends part of her life competing in scholarship competitions.

The upcoming Miss USA competition involves rehearsals, interviews with judges, social media and TV appearances, meet-and-greets, swimsuit and ballgown segments, and onstage questions. The final will be broadcast on the CW.

“You’ve got various amazing women. And so you really have to know yourself and know what you’re bringing to the table and what makes you stand out,” she told the outlet. “And I think the most challenging part is really knowing who you are because I think the judges are going to be able to pick up on that very quickly.”

She was born in Zambia and came to the U.S. when she was 13; her family’s involvement in real estate, buying and flipping houses, sparked her interest in the field.

Now, Mushinge aims to mentor others, especially women and people of color, to help diversify her profession.

In addition to her busy career and competing the Miss USA pageant, she serves as a health and wellness advocate for JLL, runs her charity, the Daughters Pride Foundation, and acts as a tourism ambassador for Zambia.

“I remember arriving to this country and the first thing that comes to mind is for whatever reason, it did not get dark,” she told the outlet. “The sun was out longer. It was 8:45 [p.m.], and it’s still bright as day outside. And ever since that day, I feel being in this country, my life has only gotten brighter, has only gotten better.”

Mushinge isn’t the only real estate professional with an unusual, high-profile pursuit outside of work.

Matija Pecotic, who is the director of capital markets for Wexford Real Estate Investors in Palm Beach, Florida, lived his dream in February when he took part in the Delray Beach Open tennis tournament.

The 33-year-old, who is ranked 784th in the world, ultimately fell in straight sets to No. 55 Marcos Giron, but not before creating some lifelong memories.

He got into the tournament as an alternate and a slot opened up. Earlier this year, he won three qualifying matches, including one over Jack Sock, who had once been ranked in the top 10 in the world and won the Delray Beach Open in 2017.

“Hopefully this has shown that I can play at a high level,” Pecotic told Bloomberg News. “I’ve actually never gotten a wild card to any event in my life — all my results have been meritocratic, so if this leads to opportunities at other big events, I would consider putting Wexford on pause, I wouldn’t quit.”

— Ted Glanzer