About Lidia

Lidia Szczepanowski is an attorney, entrepreneur, speaker, personal safety expert, fashion designer and Ms. Global Universe 2025. Her career and interests have never fit neatly into one category. Over more than three decades, she has built a life that blends law, business, media, personal safety, fashion, pageantry and philanthropy.

After earning her law degree and beginning her legal career on Long Island, New York, Lidia built a litigation practice while continuing to pursue a wide range of entrepreneurial and creative projects. Along the way, she has appeared in television, radio and print media, spoken to audiences on topics ranging from personal safety to professional development, created consumer brands and programs, and remained committed to helping women build confidence and pursue opportunities at every stage of life.

Lidia’s work has also taken her beyond the courtroom. She has appeared in television, radio and other media, spoken on topics including personal safety, confidence, career and entrepreneurship, and developed projects that reflect her interests in fashion, lifestyle and women’s empowerment.

Today, Lidia continues to practice law (NY-Counsel.com) while developing new business, media and speaking projects. In 2025, she was named Ms. Global Universe, adding another chapter to a life defined less by one title than by a willingness to keep evolving.

Professional & Legal Career

Lidia has practiced law for more than three decades, with a career focused on litigation and advocacy. Her legal work has included complex civil matters and has shaped the evidence-driven approach she brings to business, media and public speaking. Throughout her career, she has balanced the demands of legal practice with entrepreneurial ventures and other professional pursuits.

Over the years, Lidia has been recognized for her professional work and leadership and has received a number of honors for both her legal career and broader contributions. She has also served in professional, civic and community roles that reflect her longstanding interest in advocacy, leadership and public service.

Community & Advocacy

Community and advocacy have long been an important part of Lidia’s work. In 2007, she founded the National Organization for Women’s Safety Awareness, Inc. (NOWSA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to raise awareness about sexual assault and other forms of violence against women and teens. Through NOWSA, Lidia developed and supported educational programs and safety initiatives focused on personal safety, self-protection, confidence and self-esteem, particularly for young women in middle school, high school and college.

Her advocacy has also included partnerships with charitable and community organizations, public education initiatives and speaking engagements focused on women’s safety and empowerment. Her work in this area has been recognized through a number of community honors and awards, reflecting a longstanding commitment to helping women become more informed, confident and better prepared to advocate for themselves.

Media, Speaking & Pageantry

Lidia has appeared on television, radio and in print media as a legal commentator, personal safety expert, entrepreneur and lifestyle personality. She has also spoken at colleges, universities, conferences and other organizations on topics including personal safety, confidence, career, entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment.

Pageantry has become another part of that journey. Over the years, Lidia has competed in and held several pageant titles, including Mrs. New York America 2006, Mrs. New York International 2009, Mrs. Corporate America 2013, Ms. World Elite 2017, World Top Model Ms. 2022 and in 2025 she was named Ms. Global Universe. For her, pageantry has been less about the crown than about confidence, reinvention and continuing to take on new challenges at every stage of life.

Entrepreneur & Creator

Entrepreneurship has been a constant thread throughout Lidia’s career. She is the founder of Everything Lidia and the creator of projects and brands that reflect her interests in fashion, personal safety, media and women’s empowerment. Her ventures have included Stylish Safety®, speaking and educational programs, and SCULPTURA®, a patented fashion concept designed to combine style, structure and body contouring in one garment.

Her approach to business is the same one she brings to the rest of her life: identify an idea, find a way to make it work and keep evolving as new opportunities emerge.

Beyond the Resume

Outside of work, Lidia believes strongly in staying curious, trying new things and refusing to be defined by age, career or any one role. She enjoys travel, fashion, fitness, time with family and friends, and the experiences that make life interesting.

That perspective is at the heart of Everything Lidia: life is not just one thing, and neither are we.