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Brooklynn Masso

2x

Finalist

General information

Location
Boston, MA
Gender
Female
Ethnicity
Black/African, Hispanic/Latino

Hobbies & Interests

  • Acting And Theater
  • African American Studies
  • Anime
  • Cinematography
  • Dance
  • Cooking
  • Cosplay
  • Costume Design
  • Fashion
  • Makeup and Beauty
  • Poetry
  • Drawing And Illustration
  • Japanese
  • Swimming
  • Shopping And Thrifting
  • Singing

Reading

  • Academic
  • Biography
  • Humanities
  • Adventure
  • Art
  • Classics
  • Contemporary

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

My name is Brooklynn Massó, and I’m a student at Boston Latin Academy with a 3.8 GPA, AP Scholar recognition, and a consistent Honor Roll record throughout high school. I’ve worked hard to balance academic excellence with a deep love for the performing arts. I’ve performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, received a Silver Medal in Contemporary Dance at the NAACP ACT-SO National Competition, and earned awards like the Making the Impact Award and Poised Powerhouse Award. I serve on Boston’s Mayor’s Youth Council and am committed to uplifting my community through leadership, service, and the arts. Dance and musical theater have shaped who I am. I currently teach tap dance at my high school, using that space to educate others about the cultural and historical significance of Black dance forms. On stage, I feel most confident and free—it’s where my joy lives. In the fall, I will attend the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University to continue studying musical theater. My goal is to create and perform work that reflects my identity, celebrates Black heritage, and opens doors for others like me. I want my art to inspire, educate, and bring people together.

Education

Howard University

Bachelor's degree program

2025 – 2025

Majors:
  • Visual and Performing Arts, General

Boston Latin Academy

High School

2019 – 2025

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Majors of interest:
Visual and Performing Arts, General, Dance, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Desired degree modality:
In-Person
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Ambassador

    Entertainment · Urbanity Dance Center

    Jan 2024 – Present

  • Cashier and Server

    Food & Beverages · R&B Ice Cream

    Jan 2018 – Jan 2022

  • Artist

    Arts · Artists For Humanities

    Jan 2023 – Jan 2023

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Arts
Dream career goals:
To be on broadway
Work experience:
2 years
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Entrepreneurship
WCEJ Thornton Foundation Music & Art Scholarship
Since my first dance class at four, art has been my anchor. My mother enrolled me because she noticed how tightly I clung to her hand in public and how often I said, “I’m okay, but I’m a little bit scared.” She hoped dance would help me manage my anxiety, and she was half right. I am still anxious most days, but never on stage. Performing is where I feel joy, calm, and power. It’s where I transform. That is why I have chosen to major in musical theater and dance at Howard University. My art is not just for me. It’s a vessel for healing, connection, and change. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by using musical theater and tap dance to uplift underrepresented stories, particularly those of Black and queer performers. Tap and musical theater are not just performance styles; they are a history, a language, and a vessel for cultural identity. I want my work to challenge the idea that ballet is the “gold standard” of dance and instead celebrate the power and depth of tap’s African American roots. I’ve already begun this work by teaching tap in my high school and theater department. I don’t just teach shuffles and time steps—I teach history. I tell students how tap was born when enslaved Africans were stripped of drums and language and used their feet to create rhythm. I teach that ballet, while important, is one branch of a much larger, richer tree. I want my peers to understand that tap is the sound of resilience, survival, and joy. Representation is at the heart of what I do. I dream of merging my love for tap and musical theater into a full-length production that honors the history and future of this incredible dance form. Surrounded by a legacy of Black excellence, I know I’ll have the mentorship, training, and creative space to bring that vision to life. As a Black queer dancer, I know what it feels like not to see yourself on stage. Viola Davis once said, “You need to see a physical representation of your dreams.” I want to be that representation. I want to be the mirror for others that I once needed for myself. The four-year-old Brooklynn is still a little bit scared but even more excited about what the future can hold.
Brooklynn Masso Student Profile | Bold.org