My name is Serena Koontz Terzić and I am your SC Ultimate Woman Plus America 2024. I started my SCMPA journey in November 2024. Since then I have proudly represented Berkeley County as Mrs. Berkley Plus America 2024 then at the national pageant as SC Ultimate Woman Plus America 2024. I have been an office manager at Palmetto Contract Services, Inc. andDetyens Boatyard, Inc. for 19 years. In my spare time, I share my love of all things crafting as the owner of Serena’s Creations LLC. Through my platform, My Day One: finding that spark within, I encourage people not to wait until Monday to make a choice towards a happier, healthier lifestyle (physically, emotionally or spiritually). Any day can be your “My Day One.” With the assistance from my dad, Bob Koontz, we have created an outreach program entertaining senior adults at assisted living and nursing
homes throughout South Carolina. My most memorable moment was crowning the senior adult prom king and queen at a local community center. Their smiles are the entire motivation behind my platform, My Day One.

As a proud mom of four adult children and two granddaughters, I was always that mom who volunteered for everything. I have been a coach, team mom, team administrator, Sunday School teacher, pre-school choir director, and even homeschooled my children when they required extra help in school. My husband and I enjoy traveling and have a US Picture Map to document our visits to each state. To celebrate my fiftieth (50th) year, I wanted to do something different, something special. I entered the Miss Plus America system to celebrate myself while giving back to my community.

Starting out as a way to be accountable for my own weight-loss journey on April 17, 2023, “My Day One” has expanded to motivating others to make a choice towards a happier, healthier lifestyle. I began by creating videos on my YouTube channel (@serenascreations1158) then expanded to TikTok and Facebook reels. I have lost over forty pounds and have maintained the loss for over a year. As of December 2, 2024, I am on My Day 596. The feedback I receive from followers encourages me to continue. Making an impact one day at a time, the My Day One platform is based on a brochure given out to new members of the non-profit weight loss program
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). TOPS has been a part of my life for over twenty-seven years and continues to encourage members to lose weight without fad diets.

As SC Ultimate Woman Plus America 2024, my personal vow was to visit all forty-six counties in South Carolina that I represent. As of December 2024, I have visited nineteen. I share pictures and videos of my journey through South Carolina on social media. My goal is to continue spreading my sparkling personality to everyone who crosses my path. With the assistance of My Day One, my motivation is to see you smile!