A proud alumna of Girls Inc. of Bay County, Lex Benedict is now a filmmaker, producer, and creative director. After spending more than two decades in Los Angeles working in film and post-production, she returned home with a vision to create meaningful spaces where people can connect, reflect, and feel something bigger than themselves. Through festivals, screenings, and immersive experiences, Lex is building community through storytelling. Long before she was leading creative projects and producing large-scale events, Lex was a girl discovering her voice at Girls Inc. 

She remembers the feeling clearly: “Girls Inc. was one of the first places where I felt comfortable being fully myself…curious, creative, talkative, and different. Instead of being asked to quiet down or fit in, I was encouraged to lean into it and be myself. There’s something powerful about being a young girl in a room where you’re not being measured, you’re being supported. That kind of environment stays with you and helps you believe in yourself.” That confidence became central to Lex’s journey as a leader. At Girls Inc., she learned how to trust her instincts, speak up, and take ownership of her ideas . She also learned that leadership doesn’t look just one way. With the encouragement of mentors like Miss Molly, Lex embraced a quieter, more intuitive style of leadership rooted in empathy and collaboration. 

Girls Inc. didn’t just help build Lex’s confidence, it expanded her sense of what was possible. Girls Inc. introduced her to new possibilities and helped her imagine a future beyond what she had known. Today, that belief fuels her work. Lex returned to Panama City with a desire to give young girls the same sense of possibility that Girls Inc. gave her. Having built a career on films and creative projects that champion young women in science, technology, and storytelling she now hopes to continue that work through initiatives like Girls Inc. Camera Lab and hands-on experiences on film sets to show young girls that careers in editing, filmmaking, technology, and storytelling are not only possible, they belong to them too. As a storyteller, Lex understands the power stories have to shape how we see ourselves and each other. She credits Girls Inc. with helping her recognize that her voice mattered — a realization that became the foundation of her career. 

Lex’s story offers a powerful reminder that investing in girls goes far beyond programs or resources. It’s about developing girls’ confidence, providing a sense of belonging, and the belief that their voices deserve to be heard. Those are the things that stay with them — influencing the risks they take, the paths they pursue, and the leaders they become. 

Her advice to girls is simple, but profound: “…follow what pulls at you, even if it doesn’t make sense yet. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need curiosity and a willingness to try. Most of the things that shaped my life came from saying yes before I felt ready. And don’t spend too much time trying to fit into spaces that don’t see you,” she adds, “the right rooms will feel different and you won’t have to shrink to be there.”  

Lex’s journey is a testament to the lasting impact of pro-girl spaces. When girls are supported they grow into leaders who collaborate, create, and uplift others. At Girls Inc., we see that impact every day. And stories like Lex’s remind us that when girls are given the space to be themselves, they don’t just find their voice, they use it to build something meaningful.  

Check out the trailer for Identity Crisis below: