Seventeen-year-old Ocean Lombard is making waves in Rhode Island—one sparkly outfit at a time.
In May, she was crowned Miss Rhode Island’s Teen 2025 and later went on to compete at Miss America’s Teen, held in Orlando this September. With a passion for fashion, Ocean is determined to make her dreams a reality…and empower others while doing it.
In 2023, Ocean founded Bulldog Boutique, a resource for students at her high school that provides free (and fashionable) clothing. “I noticed that some of my classmates were struggling not just academically or emotionally, but with something as basic as having access to clothes they felt good in,” she shares.
Having grown up watching her mom and grandmother run a clothing store, launching a boutique was a no-brainer. With the help of her teachers, Ocean transformed a small room at her school into a fashion closet—and she’s collected over 3,500 dress donations from her community. Today, students can stop into the store and help themselves to formal dresses for any occasion, from winter formal to prom.
In two years, it’s grown into its current namesake, Ocean State Outfitters. “By giving teens the freedom to choose pieces that express their personality, we’re not just providing clothing—we’re helping them embrace their individuality and feel confident,” Ocean dishes.
And Ocean’s not stopping with her own community: She’s committed to turning her fashion-focused initiative into a statewide movement.
“Right now, I’m deep in the behind-the-scenes work, meeting with principals, superintendents and district leaders across Rhode Island,” says Ocean. “It’s been a lot of groundwork, but the momentum is growing, and I’m hopeful that you’ll soon start seeing Ocean State Outfitters popping up in schools all over the state.”
When she’s not spending time on her clothing biz, Ocean is also the host of her own podcast, “Ride The Wave.” She uses her platform to spotlight community changemakers.
Beyond her advocacy, Ocean is on her school’s soccer, dance and track teams, part of the theater department and dedicated to civil leadership by serving on Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee’s Young Leaders Board.
How she manages to do it all? To Ocean, her packed sched never feels overwhelming because everything she’s involved with is something she genuinely hearts. “I just keep saying yes to the things that feel right, challenge me or make me say, “Wait… that sounds really cool,'” Ocean says. “My passion is my fuel, and luckily, I run on a full tank of energy and Starbucks Refreshers.” Brb, off to grab a pink drink!
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All images courtesy of Ocean Lombard & Miss Rhode Island’s Teen.
