The business journalist who is also a beauty queen

Julia La Roche, a senior reporter at Business Insider, was crowned Miss New York United States in March 2014. Last week, she crowned her successor.

La Roche competed at the Miss United States pageant in Washington D.C. during the Fourth of July holiday.

She joined Business Insider in August 2011 after working at CNBC.com. La Roche is a graduate of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

While at UNC, she contributed to the award-winning student-run newscast “Carolina Week” as a reporter. Outside of academic life, she was a member of the university’s equestrian team competing in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

La Roche  is a member of the New York Junior League.  She also volunteers with Project Sunshine and is a mentor to an area high school student via Futures & Options.

She spoke by email with Talking Biz News about how she balanced her Business Insider job with her Miss New York duties. What follows is an edited transcript.

How have you balanced being a business journalist and Miss New York?

Just like how I balance many other areas of my life whether it’s physical fitness (I love weightlifting, biking and running) or community service ( I’ve been volunteering with Project Sunshine in New York City since 2011 and the New York Junior League). I think it’s important to be involved in activities outside of the office.

Through the Miss United States Organization, I’ve met women from all across the country who have different careers–entrepreneurs, attorneys, doctors, publicists, realtors, etc. Everyone seems to find balance with their professional lives and their respective state titles.

Do the two areas ever intertwine?

Sometimes. I think the one time I had a real advantage being a journalist was during the interview portion of the Miss United States pageant. This Miss United States system focuses heavily on the interview and onstage question.

At nationals, we had a round-robin, one-on-one interview with eight different judges. They asked us about current events (immigration, the Hobby Lobby decision, etc). We had to be able form and articulate an opinion for each question.

What do you like about being a business journalist?

I have always wanted to be a journalist ever since I was a little girl. After taking your business journalism class at UNC, I became interested in pursuing a career as a Wall Street reporter. I think what I love the most is being part of the conversation and having the opportunity to speak with some incredibly smart, insightful people.

What’s it like to work at Business Insider?

I love it! I’ve been here for almost four years now. I love Business Insider’s culture and overall environment. It’s a fun, fast-paced newsroom full of incredibly talented, motivated people. We also do a lot of things together as an office whether it’s dodge ball game or a volunteer project. There’s a real sense of teamwork at BI.

What types of stories do you like to cover the most?

I’m a Wall Street reporter. I cover banks and hedge funds. What I really love, though, is covering the people that make up Wall Street. I think there are a ton of great human interest stories to be told.

What do you say to people who don’t think Business Insider is real business journalism?

I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me before. If they did, I would disagree. When I talk to folks on Wall Street, I always get feedback about how they love what we’re doing. It’s a great mix of business news with the fun, interesting stuff too.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to be a business journalist?

When I was about to start my first internship in business journalism you gave me this piece of advice–‘Get in early. Stay late. Work hard. Kick butt and take names!’ I tell students the same thing.

I’m a huge fan of internships too. I think it’s the best way to show a company just how much you want the job. It’s the hardest you’ll ever work. I also think it’s important as an intern to say ‘yes’ to as many opportunities/assignments as possible even if it means you’re going to have to work late or come in extra early. I probably didn’t have a ton of fun going out in New York City my first summer here, but I had a full-time job offer by mid-July. It was definitely worth it.