Dr. Monica Riley named IAOTP Top Innovator in Holistic Health

Dr. Monica Riley, founder and CEO of Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty, has been selected by the International Association of Top Professionals as Top Innovator Of The Year in Holistic Health for 2026. IAOTP will honor her at its annual awards gala later this year at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Why it matters: - The IAOTP selection gives Dr. Monica Riley a new industry recognition tied to her work in holistic health, entrepreneurship, and women’s self-care. - The honor adds visibility ahead of IAOTP’s annual awards gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. - The recognition may broaden attention on Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty and its plant-based, natural-care positioning.

What happened: - The International Association of Top Professionals selected Dr. Monica Riley for Top Innovator Of The Year in Holistic Health for 2026. - IAOTP will honor Dr. Riley at its annual awards gala in New York City at the Plaza Hotel. - IAOTP said honorees are chosen through an exclusive vetting process and invited to the gala at year-end. - IAOTP President Stephanie Cirami said the organization is honored to have Dr. Riley in the IAOTP family and expects more from her work.

The details: - Dr. Riley is the founder and CEO of Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty, LLC. - The brand specializes in plant-based hair, skin, body care, and luxury fragrances. - The company says the brand is celebrating a decade of excellence and focuses on women over 40, with special care to melanated beauty. - Dr. Riley has more than three decades of experience in holistic health sciences. - Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty blends aromatherapy science with her family’s 100-year legacy of natural remedies. - Products are handcrafted in small batches with essential oils, floral essences, and botanicals. - The collection is 100% natural and free from fillers, phthalates, and toxins. - Dr. Riley describes her ethos as “Self-Care IS Healthcare”™️. - Her background includes healthcare consulting, public speaking, life coaching, educational and business consulting, trade shows, live and product-launch events, editing, writing, and content strategy. - Dr. Riley is an award-winning author in the anthology “Joy Is Just Over Yonder: Passionate Stories of Joy Realized.” - Her chapter is titled “Unapologetic Footsteps: A Legacy of Character and Faith.” - She graduated summa cum laude from Vassar College with degrees in English and Africana Studies. - She earned a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. - After a brief stint with a Capitol Hill news service, she moved into programming and production at WHMM-TV32 in Washington, D.C. - She spent 20 years with PBS in New York, contributing to Sesame Street, WLIW-TV21, and WNET-TV13. - Dr. Riley is a two-time Emmy Award-winning documentary producer. - She hosted the holistic health podcast Ask the Aromatherapist on Blog Talk Radio from 2009 to 2011. - She also wrote for The Examiner from 2009 to 2014. - In 2016, she earned a degree in integrative medicine from the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. - In 2021, she served on a Harvard University School of Medicine research panel focused on COVID long-haulers. - She has been an adjunct professor of English and Composition at The College of Southern Nevada since 2006. - She co-founded The Sankofa Academic Initiative, with a focus on The Harlem Renaissance Literature and Advanced Composition. - Her community and leadership work includes President Emeritus of The Women of Global Change–Las Vegas, The Embracing Project, Project Marilyn, and a board appointment to The Doula CO-OP of Nevada. - Her awards include Las Vegas Woman of Power in 2022, the 2024 CREA Global Award, the 2024 Circle of Excellence, Top Holistic and Self-Care Leader of the Year in 2024, and IAOTP’s Empowered Woman Award last year. - Dr. Riley’s fragrances have appeared at the 2024 Oscars Gifting Suite, the 2025 Emmy Awards, the Santa Fe International Film Festival, the 2026 Oscar Awards, Miss Nevada USA Pageant 2026, and the 2026 Emmy Awards. - She is also known as “The Celebrity Perfumer” and “The Scent Whisperer.” - This year, IAOTP said Dr. Riley will be considered for a feature in TIP Magazine. - More information is available at the company’s website and IAOTP’s award gala page.

Between the lines: - The award recognizes a career that spans media, education, beauty, and holistic wellness, not just one product line. - Dr. Riley’s mix of academic credentials, broadcast experience, and wellness branding appears to be a core part of her public profile. - The repeated awards and event placements suggest IAOTP is positioning her as both an entrepreneur and a lifestyle brand figure.

What’s next: - Dr. Riley will be honored at IAOTP’s annual awards gala later this year in New York City. - IAOTP said she may be featured in TIP Magazine this year. - Dr. Riley said she hopes to inspire people entering holistic health and continues to frame her work around faith, perseverance, and self-care. - She said, “You must love what you do and do what you love.”