Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha De Haan.
Hi Samantha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story really begins with how I was raised. I grew up in an entrepreneurial household where my parents constantly encouraged me to try new things, push beyond limits, and follow my passions, whatever they may be. Because of that, I developed a fearless curiosity and a willingness to try, even when failure was possible.
Over the years, I’ve explored countless interests. I reached the final round of auditions for MasterChef Junior. I worked as a background actor in Netflix’s Fear Street. I’ve traveled to 13 countries (soon to be 15). I’ve pole vaulted in track, played flag football, and spent nearly 15 years playing tennis. All of these experiences were less about the activities themselves and more about the lessons they taught me: to take risks, to adapt, and to never fear failure.
From an early age, I was also fascinated by entrepreneurship, business, and real estate. While other little girls were playing with Barbie dolls, I begged my parents to buy me The Sims, not to play with characters, but to design and build homes. That passion followed me into high school, where I joined DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), the organization that truly changed my life.
I became deeply involved, serving as an officer for three years, one as Vice President of Recruitment and two as Vice President of Community Service. In those roles, I launched my school’s first-ever coat drive, which collected over 2,000 coats for students in need. Many of my classmates came from low-income families, and seeing how much this drive helped inspired me to do more. That led to the professional dress drive, which collected over 2,500 items—clothing, shoes, and accessories, so students could participate in “Dress for Success Day” without financial stress. These projects are where I first discovered my true love for community service.
At the same time, I competed in DECA events all four years. My journey was far from traditional: as a freshman, I placed dead last at the regional level. Instead of quitting, I used that as fuel. By sophomore year, I placed third in the state. As a junior, I placed second. And as a senior, I won first in the state and went on to place Top 10 in the entire world. DECA lit the fire in me for entrepreneurship, competition, and resilience.
After high school, I was determined to dive headfirst into my career. The summer before college, I walked into my local Keller Williams and asked if they accepted interns. They said they never had one before. My response? “Great, here’s my resume!” From that moment on, my life changed. I wasn’t just an office intern, I became everyone’s intern, helping with whatever was needed. The agents quickly began turning to me for marketing help, and I realized my skills in business and design could fill a major gap.
That’s when I launched Elevate Real Estate Marketing, a white-glove service designed to provide agents with luxury, done-for-you marketing. At the same time, I earned my real estate license at just 18 years old. I wanted to truly understand what my clients experienced, and walking in their shoes gave me invaluable perspective.
All of this happened during my freshman year of college. By my second semester, I wanted more. I wanted to make a greater impact, sharing my story, encouraging others, and serving my community. That’s when I competed in my first-ever pageant. To my surprise, I won and became Miss Southwest Georgia’s Teen in the Miss America Organization. That experience was life-changing, and today I proudly serve as Miss Southwest Georgia.
The Miss America Organization gives every candidate the opportunity to develop a Community Service Initiative (CSI), a cause they’re passionate about. Mine is called She Means Business, and it’s all about building tomorrow’s women leaders and entrepreneurs today. Through She Means Business, I share a message that has defined my journey: you’re never too young or too old to start something new. Your age or level of experience doesn’t define what you’re capable of, your courage and willingness to try does.
Through my CSI, I’ve shared my message in schools with my children’s book Sammy D: Tiny Boss, Big Dreams. I’ve spoken on stages at real estate and entrepreneurship conferences, reaching hundreds of people. I’ve worked with DECA, the organization that first shaped me, to inspire the next generation of student leaders.
My journey proves that failure isn’t the end, it’s often the beginning. Every challenge I’ve faced has built the foundation for what comes next. I’m living proof that with courage, resilience, and imagination, you can turn your dreams into reality. And this is only the start, because at the end of the day, I don’t just want to build my future, I want to help others build theirs.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road. In fact, some of the hardest moments of my life are the very things that shaped me the most.
One of my biggest challenges was earning my real estate license. I actually failed the exam multiple times before finally passing. Now, failing isn’t the greatest feeling in the world, but oddly enough, it wasn’t devastating for me. From the start, I knew with absolute determination that I was going to make it happen, no matter how many attempts it took. Each failure didn’t discourage me, it motivated me. Every time I walked out without the result I wanted, I told myself, “Okay, back to work.” I studied harder, I studied longer, and I kept showing up.
One thing people often commented on during that season was my positivity and optimism. I made a very conscious choice about how I reacted. I knew that having a negative mindset would only hurt me or discourage me more. So instead of seeing failure as the end, I saw it as part of the process. Each attempt was just one step closer to passing. And when I finally did pass at 18, there were absolutely tears of joy, because that victory represented not just the license itself, but the persistence, mindset, and faith it took to get there.
Another challenge came when I decided to start my own business while beginning college. Balancing clients, classes, and a brand-new chapter of life was overwhelming at times, but it pushed me to grow faster than I ever imagined. Even on the toughest days, I reminded myself that growth and comfort don’t coexist, and building something meaningful often requires sacrifice.
Then there was pageantry, a world I had never imagined myself in. Competing for my very first pageant was terrifying. I had never walked a stage in heels, never performed a “talent,” and never put myself in that kind of spotlight before. But I entered because I wanted to grow. To my surprise, I won my very first competition and became Miss Southwest Georgia’s Teen. That experience opened the door to compete at Miss Georgia’s Teen, where I was honored to place in the Top 10 my very first year. For me, that was proof that sometimes you just have to take a leap into the unknown, you never know what you might achieve when you’re willing to try.
Through all of these struggles, failing, balancing too much, facing fears, I’ve learned that success is never a straight line. It’s messy, it’s humbling, and it’s often harder than you imagine. But it’s also what makes the victories so meaningful. If the road had been smooth, I wouldn’t appreciate the destination nearly as much.
So no, it hasn’t been a smooth road. But I wouldn’t want it to be. Because every bump, every setback, and every challenge has given me resilience, optimism, and perspective, and those are the very things that keep me moving forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, I wear a lot of hats, but they all connect back to my passion for entrepreneurship, service, and helping others succeed.
I’m a licensed real estate agent and the founder of Elevate Real Estate Marketing, a white-glove marketing agency that helps real estate agents save time and elevate their brand with luxury-level marketing materials. We specialize in done-for-you flyers, social media posts, and digital content that agents can use immediately to market themselves and their listings. What sets Elevate apart is the turnaround time and quality, we deliver within 24–48 hours, and everything is fully customized. I started this business after interning at Keller Williams, where I saw firsthand how much agents struggled with marketing. They’re brilliant at selling homes, but many simply don’t have the time or design knowledge to create polished, professional materials. That’s where Elevate steps in, making marketing effortless and effective.
Outside of real estate, I also serve as Miss Southwest Georgia in the Miss America Organization, which has given me a platform to merge my love for business with my love for service. My Community Service Initiative, She Means Business, focuses on building tomorrow’s women leaders and entrepreneurs today. I’m currently working on creating a scholarship fund, I’ve authored a children’s book (Sammy D: Tiny Boss, Big Dreams), spoken at schools and conferences, and mentored young women who are just starting to explore their passions. I want to show others, especially young girls, hat you’re never too young, too old, or too inexperienced to start something new.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve built everything I do on perseverance and purpose. I didn’t become licensed overnight, I had to take the real estate exam multiple times before passing. I didn’t walk into pageantry as an expert, I had never competed before and still placed Top 10 at Miss Georgia’s Teen. I’ve had to learn, adapt, and fail forward every step of the way. But what sets me apart is that I’ve never let those challenges discourage me. Instead, I approach every obstacle with optimism and a mindset that failure is simply feedback.
At the end of the day, I think what makes me different is that I don’t just want to build my own success, I want to help others build theirs. Whether it’s through helping an agent market their listing, inspiring a young girl to believe in herself, or serving my community, I believe true success is about impact. That’s the legacy I want to create.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love best about Atlanta is how alive the city feels. It’s a place where opportunity and creativity are everywhere you look. From the business world to the arts, the food scene to the music, there’s such a unique blend of culture here that makes the city truly one of a kind. For me, Atlanta has always represented possibility. I grew up with parents who own bars and restaurants in the heart of the city, so from a young age I saw firsthand how much entrepreneurship thrives here. That exposure taught me to appreciate not only the energy of the city but also the work ethic and drive of the people who live here.
I also love that Atlanta is a hub for conferences, networking, and professional development. The DECA State Career Development Conference, the one that helped shape my high school years and sparked so much of my passion for business, has always been hosted here. So for me, Atlanta isn’t just a city, it’s a place that nurtured my growth, inspired my goals, and gave me opportunities to connect with leaders and dreamers from every background.
If I had to pick something I like least, it would definitely be the traffic. Atlanta is such a large and popular city that getting from one place to another can take far longer than you expect. I always joke that here you measure distance by time, not miles. But even with the traffic, I think it’s a small price to pay for all the opportunity, diversity, and energy the city offers.
Image Credits
Sheldon Smith Photography
