#329 Zoe McGrady Interview: Miss Cosmo USA 2025 1RU

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About ZoeZoe McGrady is an engineer, professional model, content creator and youth mentor based in New York City.Zoe attended Duke University and obtained her Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering in 2019. Since then, she worked six years in Fintech, became a professional model working for brands like Under Armor and Sephora, and began pageantry where she placed 3 time top 3 at Miss New York USA.Both as a mentor and a content creator, Zoe now shares how she succeeded in many male-dominated fields and pivoted into the beauty space while facing multiple childhood adversities. The biggest was overcoming abuse and the challenges of a dysfunctional upbringing brought on by parental addiction.After embarking on her own self-healing journey, Zoe’s initiative “Thrive Beyond Survive” is focused on sharing her story and personal lessons to help others facing adversity get out of survival mode and be able to thrive in life. She recently competed at Miss Cosmo USA where she placed First Runner-Up.👉 Follow Zoe:https://www.instagram.com/zoe.mcgrady/⏱️ Timestamps* 0:00 Intro and bio; platform overview: Thrive Beyond Survive* 12:00 Adoption, STEM, and wrestling: early identity & Duke* 14:33 The Instagram ad that led to Miss New York USA* 15:47 From résumé to story: interviews that land* 18:00 Year one results: why the judges connected despite imperfections* 19:27 Mentoring focus: from intention to speaking to kids and panels* 20:59 Feedback, boundaries, and controlling what she can (skin, weight, no surgery)* 24:35 Pressing pause on Miss USA amid controversy and ‘silenced’ titleholders* 26:59 Prelim self-critique: “I think I screwed up bikini”* 28:18 Saying yes to Miss Cosmo USA with two weeks’ prep* 30:04 Judges, scorecards, and subconscious bias in pageantry* 32:18 Backstage optics as an introvert: focus over photos* 1:01:20 Anxiety on the journey and regulating through competition* 1:17:39 Modeling craft: reviewing every frame, angles, and pose auditingI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe---When Did Mature Become a Bad Thing?I was working with a new pageant interview client today. She had just aged out of Teen and was about to compete in her second-ever Miss competition. Her mother had originally sent me a DM on Instagram saying that her daughter had always scored well in interview but that there would almost always be at least one comment about how she needed to show more “personality” or that she sounded too rehearsed.One even went as far as to say they felt she was just telling them what they wanted to hear.There’s no doubt that feedback like that can be confusing (as well as frustrating). This young woman turned out to be super sharp and articulate, which some judges (especially in Teen competitions) can see as being too “mature.” I’ve worked with multiple Teen contestants who received similar feedback—all of it along the lines of them almost interviewing too well, or that they interviewed like a Miss rather than a Teen.I personally think this is bogus advice. I was extremely mature growing up, and if you were to tell me that the reason I didn’t win a competition was because I sounded too “mature,” then my conclusion would automatically be that this clearly wasn’t a competition for me.That being said, pageant judges sometimes don’t say what they mean. I’m not saying that they’re not telling you the truth (although that can be a distinct possibility at times). What I am saying is that sometimes they struggle to articulate their thoughts just as much as you might during an interview.What Does the Feedback Actually Mean?By now, most of you know that my coaching runs deep. I focus on mindset and root causes, not surface-level band-aid solutions. In this case, I needed to determine what the judge actually meant when they said my client hadn’t shown enough “personality.”After all, unless you decode what the feedback actually means, how can you get to work on it?Here was the conclusion we ended up with:* Showing “personality” actually means needing to appear relatable.* In order to be relatable, you need to share your struggles.* This makes you imperfect, human, and ultimately relatable.* Sharing struggles gave my client the ick (“Why would anyone want to hear about my problems?”).* On top of that, she was intelligent, and some of her friends had called her “intimidating.”When you add this all up, the judge’s comment begins to make more sense. It wasn’t really about personality at all; it was about the need to be relatable by showing people that you weren’t perfect and that you had struggles like everybody else.And when you couple this with a sharp intellect and an impressive résumé, some judges are going to view that as showing off and will immediately mark you down. But here’s the moral of the story:They won’t write that.Ninety-nine percent of the time, they’ll phrase it in a more palatable way such as “needs to show personality,” which leaves you feeling confused because it’s such a vague concept.The next time you get vague, confusing, or frustrating feedback in your pageant, decode what it really means before getting to work. Otherwise, you might spend a year fixing the wrong thing—or polishing a flaw that never existed in the first place.⏱️ Timestamps* 0:00 – Special Offer: Become Adrian’s “guinea pig” for new AI-based mock interview testing* 2:34 – The Client Story: Teen contestant moving into Miss division and confusing judge feedback* 5:49 – “Too Rehearsed” Confusion: When you get feedback that doesn’t fit your actual prep* 7:35 – What Judges Really Mean: “Show more personality” = “Be more relatable”* 13:18 – Why You Must Record Yourself: The danger of never watching your own interview back* 16:04 – The Limits of Coaching Alone: It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it* 20:27 – The Hard Work of Self-Discovery: Doing the personal work that builds authenticity and confidence* 26:16 – Final Thoughts & Call to Action: Do the work, record yourself, and reach out if you want to be the test client---I offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About NicoleNicole Taylor, Miss Illinois Volunteer 2026, is a conservation major at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Assistant Director of Gardner Camp, a nonprofit youth outdoor education center. Her S.E.R.V.E initiative, Exploring Inclusion, promotes equal access to the outdoors by breaking down barriers for everyone.Nicole believes no matter someone’s age, gender, background, or identity, there is a place in the outdoors for all. With a social media reach of over 100,000 followers she uses her platform digitally and in person volunteering to inspire others to discover that everyone belongs in nature.👉 Follow Nicole:https://www.instagram.com/nicoleataylor2004/https://www.tiktok.com/@nicoleataylor2004⏱️ Timestamps* 0:00 Intro and bio: Miss Illinois Volunteer 2026, conservation major, and founder of Exploring Inclusion* 7:45 Camo meets crown: balancing college, nonprofit work, hunting, and pageantry* 13:20 Handling judgment and staying authentic online* 17:40 The bow-shop encounter that launched her pageant journey* 25:10 Conservation 101: how hunters fund environmental protection* 31:50 The viral owl call and what it taught her about confidence* 39:45 Traveling across 21 states: modeling, hunting, and TSA stories* 48:10 Building a 100K platform to promote inclusion in the outdoors* 1:05:30 Landing her dream job as Assistant Director at Gardner Camp* 1:16:50 Faith, gratitude, and preparing for Miss Volunteer America 2026I offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeIf you ever want to guarantee chaos, try filming a serious video with a cat in the room.Mine decided the exact moment I hit record was the perfect time to make his grand entrance. Fur everywhere. Meowing like he’d just discovered he had vocal cords.Anyway.This week I offered free mock interviews to Miss USA and Miss Teen USA contestants. It was just something I wanted to do for the girls heading to Reno. I figured maybe one person would book. Ten did.And that’s when things got interesting.I thought I’d be running interview drills. Asking tough questions. Testing composure. But that’s not what happened.One contestant, a front-runner I’ve known for years, wanted me to throw every hard question I could think of at her. She handled them all with ease. After a few minutes I stopped and said, “You don’t need this. You’re ready.” She paused, exhaled, and said quietly, “Yeah... I guess I am.”That’s what she actually needed to hear. Not another question. Permission to stop overworking and start believing it was enough.Another contestant told me she doesn’t hit her stride until question four or five. Which, in a Miss USA interview, is about two minutes too late. So I suggested she warm up before she even walks into the room. Two minutes of out-loud practice, maybe using ChatGPT’s voice mode, just to get into rhythm. Same skill, better timing.Then there was the eighteen-year-old who said she felt like an imposter. She’s brilliant, confident, and prepared, but she couldn’t remember the last time she felt proud of herself. We reframed that. Imposter syndrome isn’t a flaw, it’s fuel. Her homework was to look in the mirror and say, “I’m proud of you.” It made her squirm, which meant she needed it.And finally, one of my Miss USA contestants had sent a perfect but painfully stiff video. On our call, though, she was hilarious, magnetic, totally herself. I told her, “Walk into the room as your TikTok self, not your LinkedIn self.”By the end of those ten sessions, I realized something. None of these were really mock interviews.They were something else entirely.Each one ended the same way: with someone seeing themselves clearly for the first time.* Clarity that they’d already done enough.* Clarity that perfectionism can be useful when it’s understood.* Clarity that their real self is more powerful than any polished version.That’s when it hit me. This is what I actually do.Sure, I can run mock interviews or review social media strategy. But the real transformation happens when you finally understand yourself. When you stop trying to become someone new and start seeing who you already are.If you’d like to have a Clarity Conversation of your own, I’m giving away one free session in the next 24 hours.It’s a half-hour chat to help you get clear on what’s keeping you stuck, what feedback really means, or whether you’re heading in the right direction.The only catch is that it’ll be recorded, since I’ll be sharing the session in Thursday’s video.If that sounds like you, and you have a specific area you want clarity on (pageant, business, social media, whatever it is), reply to this email or message me on Instagram.You don’t need more coaching.You need clarity.Timestamps* 1:40 Why I offered free Miss USA mock interviews* 4:10 When “mock interviews” turn into something else* 6:45 The front-runner who just needed to hear she was ready* 10:30 The warm-up problem (and how to fix it in two minutes)* 14:20 The perfectionist teen and the mirror assignment* 19:10 Bringing your TikTok self into the interview room* 24:45 What every contestant actually needed* 28:30 The truth behind my coaching sessions* 32:00 Why clarity beats more preparation* 35:10 What I’m offering next* 41:50 How to get your free clarity conversationI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About ChristellPageant queen turned entrepreneur, you may know Christell Foote as 3rd runner up to Miss USA or 1st runner up to Miss US International, she has now taken her skills to entrepreneurship! Footewear, her brand she formed this past year started from her passion for shoes and not ever being able to find one that fit her.Fast forward she has now created the Glass Slipper™️: a shoe that doesn’t ask a girl to compromise, a symbol of authenticity and identity.👉 Follow Christell:https://www.instagram.com/footewearbychristell/https://footewear.store/⏱️ Timestamps* 00:00 Intro and seven-year journey* 03:20 Owning her height and confidence* 07:45 Birth of Footewear and first prototypes* 12:05 Family support and startup grind* 18:40 Competing in her own heels* 20:10 The “no blisters” Miss U.S. International moment* 26:00 Expanding sizes and future plans* 32:30 Not done with pageantry yet* 45:50 Shoutouts and secret launch* 47:10 Final 10 questions and closingI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About KelseyKelsey Craft is a board-certified Physician Assistant with a passion for aesthetics and wellness, currently serving as Miss Alaska USA 2025. She has dedicated her career to helping others feel confident both inside and out, blending medical expertise with a heart for service.After a life-altering accident in 2022, Kelsey realized that true beauty is not defined by titles, appearances, or outside recognition, but by resilience, authenticity, and purpose. This experience inspired her to create Craft Your Beauty, a movement that empowers others to embrace their inner strength and self-worth. Through the Craft Your Beauty Scholarship, she supports high school graduates who share how they plan to make the world a more beautiful place, ensuring her platform has a lasting impact.Beyond the stage and clinic, Kelsey is a certified yoga instructor who volunteers her time teaching restorative classes to educators, underserved communities, and trauma-affected groups. Having traveled to all 50 states as a national spokesperson for nonprofits, she has seen firsthand the power of connection and service. Whether teaching on the mat, speaking on stage, or representing Alaska at Miss USA, she embodies her core belief: true beauty is crafted not by appearances, but by how we love, serve, and uplift others.👉 Follow Kelsey on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kelseycraft/⏱️ Timestamps* 00:00 Intro and bio* 01:35 Nashville check in* 02:00 Day in the life, coffee culture* 06:25 The 2022 accident* 12:00 Crafting the 90 second intro* 18:50 Crow pose breakthrough* 26:10 Perfectionism and self worth* 33:00 Identity and showing up* 35:16 Craft Your Beauty and scholarship* 55:50 Miss USA prep logistics* 56:30 Final 10 questions* 01:04:00 Closing and outroI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeThere’s no disputing the fact that social media and pageantry have become intricately intertwined over the last twenty years. Being able to build and foster an engaged audience on social media is one of the most important skill sets a titleholder can have, not only for her pageant career but also for the one beyond that.It’s also a crucial factor in helping a Director grow the pageant by getting more girls to compete year after year.The difficulty lies in balancing the need to become proficient in social media with not allowing it to become an all-consuming full-time occupation unto itself. You need to build a healthy relationship with your phone and social media so that you can use it, rather than have it use you, where you’re doom-scrolling until the early hours of the morning (or until you drop your phone on your face).Julia DeSerio: Owner of Four Points Media and MarketingI wanted to bring Julia in for a couple of reasons.Firstly, with the launch of The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry, I’m starting to build our Resources section out in earnest. Many of our test readers, including more than a few of you, were keen on having a central place where I could recommend people I trust. I don’t take that responsibility lightly, which means I’m only recommending people I know personally, and even then, I’m still interviewing them so you can get a feel for who they are.Julia first appeared on my radar because of the video work she’s been doing with Miss Georgia Volunteer Peyton Christen. It wasn’t just a touching video, it was a stellar piece of social media content that told a story and stood out in a sea of pageant posts that often look identical.I think it would serve many of you well to consider spending a meaningful portion of your pageant budget on bringing in people like Julia who can make your life easier, amplify your advocacy, and help shape your legacy. Having someone who can expertly document your journey takes pressure off you, and the final product will always be far more engaging and professional than a selfie or a phone propped up on a stack of books.For Our VIPsFor this Thursday’s VIP Deep Dive, I thought it would be a great idea to offer one of our VIPs a social media audit, along with ideas and strategies for future content creation aimed at magnifying your message and growing your platform.If you’re a VIP and would like me to cast an eye over your socials, reply to this email or send me a DM in the Substack app.Timestamps* 00:00 Intro and Make A Wish Story* 03:12 Julia’s Background* 05:40 What Four Points Offers* 08:30 Getting Started with Clients* 11:40 Working with Miss Georgia Volunteer* 16:15 Authenticity Over Cookie Cutter Content* 20:00 The Make A Wish Video Behind the Scenes* 22:20 Being Present vs Capturing Content* 31:37 Transform Your Brand Reign and Legacy* 35:10 Pageantry as Professional DevelopmentI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About MinaFounder of Love Your Neighbor VT Inc (a 501c3 nonprofit) helping youth coping with family/friends struggling with alcohol use and or loss and lending a hand in the Vermont community. Also, a Dance Hope Cure Ambassador bringing awareness to children fighting cancer, a Rebel Talent model how to rebel against bullying, and the UVM Children’s Hospital Children’s Miracle Network Champion with a focus on my disease with Crohn’s.👉 Follow Mina on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/missvtteenallamerican/⏱️ Timestamps* 0:00 Intro and Mina’s bio* 6:49 Why All-American and RPM’s role* 13:45 Sizzle reel and Halloween chat* 20:36 Advice for teens coping with addiction at home* 27:31 Volunteering, Spectrum event, balanced schedule* 34:24 What makes a great teacher, making math fun* 41:20 Flying vs helicopters, Mina’s first flight* 48:09 Concert before her birthday, big emotions* 55:04 Gen Z slang banter and language quirks* 1:02:00 Wrap up and reflectionsI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribeEvery year I watch contestants obsess over gowns, walks, platforms, and paperwork, yet the one thing that determines everything else gets overlooked.Your pageant WHY.Before you pick your system, before you plan your wardrobe, before you spend a single dollar, you need to know exactly why you’re competing.The Question Most Contestants AvoidAsk a room full of contestants why they’re competing, and you’ll hear the same handful of answers:* “I want to inspire others.”* “I want to build confidence.”* “I want to make a difference.”All beautiful. All vague.Your why isn’t meant to sound good on paper. It’s meant to feel real in your chest. When it’s honest, it anchors you. When it’s missing, you drift. That’s when burnout happens, when comparison creeps in, and when you start chasing crowns that were never meant for you.How Your WHY Shapes EverythingYour why is what guides your choices.If you’re there for scholarship money, that points you toward systems like Miss America or Miss Volunteer America.If you crave modeling opportunities or media exposure, Miss USA or Miss Grand might fit better.If an environmental advocacy drives you, Miss Earth makes sense.But it goes deeper than picking a pageant. Your why also affects how you handle loss, how you prepare, and how you show up.If your reason is growth, you can leave without the crown and still feel fulfilled.If your reason is validation, even a win won’t fill the gap.Peel Back the LayersHere’s an exercise I love:* Ask yourself “Why am I competing?”* Then, when you answer, ask “Why is that important to me?”* Then ask again.* Do it five times.The first answer will be surface level. The fifth will be raw, and that’s the one that changes everything. It’s like peeling back the layers of an onion.It’s not about overthinking. It’s about honesty. Sometimes your real reason sounds simple: “I’m in a rut, and I need something to push me.” That’s valid. It’s human. And it’s far more powerful than a polished line you think you’re supposed to say.When Your WHY ChangesYour why will evolve over time.Maybe at first it’s about proving you can. Later, it’s about helping others believe they can too.That’s growth, not inconsistency. The best titleholders I’ve met revisit their why every season. It keeps them grounded when nerves hit and humble when success comes.Your Challenge This WeekBefore you rehearse your walk or tweak your paperwork, take ten quiet minutes.Write down your why.Then read it out loud.If it doesn’t move you, it won’t move anyone else.A Special InvitationThis Thursday, during our VIP deep dive, I’ll be running a live Pageant WHY Clarity Session. I’m looking for one VIP to volunteer for a short, 30-minute one-on-one where I’ll walk you through the full exercise. We’ll record it Wednesday night U.S. time / Thursday morning Australia time, and the replay will be available for all VIPs.If you’d like to take part, message me quickly (or hit reply to this email). And if you’re not yet a VIP, now’s the time to join. Membership is still $9.99 a month (or $97 a year), but it increases to $19.99 a month (or $197 a year) when The Beginner’s Guide to Pageantry launches in a few days. You’ll keep the lower rate for as long as you stay subscribed.Timestamps* 00:52 Back to basics: the book launch and what inspired this topic* 01:24 The most important question in pageantry: What’s your why?* 02:13 How your why determines which system you should compete in* 03:40 Using your why to decide whether to compete again* 04:50 Why being honest about your motivation matters more than sounding good* 05:56 How to go deeper: the “onion layers” method for finding your real why* 08:31 When your comfort zone becomes your rut* 09:12 What coaches look for when something emotionally “hits”* 10:54 The power of self-awareness and emotional triggers in coaching* 11:49 VIP offer: live clarity session on finding your pageant why* 13:32 Why your why changes as you grow* 14:35 Closing thoughts and the upcoming price increase for VIPsI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe

Each week, I share no-fluff pageant coaching that helps you win. Both on stage and off. After coaching titleholders in Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss America, and 350+ pageant interviews, this isn’t theory. It’s what works.https://thepageantproject.com/subscribe👑 About NikolinaNikolina Vujcic was born and raised in Des Plaines, Illinois, and is a proud first-generation Serbian-American. Trilingual in Serbian, Spanish, and English, she embraces her multicultural background with pride. The only child of two loving parents, she was immersed in her culture from a young age, spending her early years performing Serbian folklore dancing—a tradition she carried through high school. A lifelong performer, Nikolina also found her love for dance and cheerleading, participating throughout middle school, high school, and college.She attended Loyola University Chicago, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing while also excelling as a collegiate Student-Athlete. As a member—and two-year captain—of Loyola’s first-ever competitive cheerleading team, Nikolina helped lead the team to a historic Top 10 finish at UCA Nationals. At just 22 years old, she became a Registered Nurse and began her career in the Pediatric Emergency Department of the very hospital where she was born.As a pediatric ER nurse, Nikolina is committed to delivering holistic care while minimizing the emotional trauma children may experience during emergency visits. Her compassion extends beyond the hospital walls—she has a deep passion for service, encouraging others to use their individual gifts and talents to create meaningful, lasting change in their communities.Nikolina’s service has reached the international stage. Most notably, she traveled to Lourdes, France, where she volunteered at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, assisting pilgrims—both sick and well—at the sacred baths believed to possess healing waters.Looking ahead, Nikolina plans to further her education by pursuing a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education, followed by Nurse Practitioner school with a focus on fertility. She hopes to help minimize the stress often associated with fertility care and one day open her own fertility clinic—an inclusive, empowering space where women feel supported, heard, and respected.Her dedication to combining purpose with passion is what fuels her drive to serve, inspire, and lead with a servant’s heart.👉 Follow Nikolina on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nikolinaavujcic/⏱️ Timestamps* 0:00 Intro and bio, Des Plaines roots, trilingual background, Loyola nursing* 7:30 Name pronunciation tips, Serbian pride, role models and first-pitch story* 15:00 Parents’ pageant love story, immigration journey, family values* 22:30 Chicago favorites, Miss USA timeline, switching into competition mode* 30:00 Balancing ER shifts with prep, routines, coaches, and accountability* 37:30 Crowning night memories, imposter syndrome, staying present and grateful* 45:00 Returning to the hospital after winning, staff support, meaningful fan moments* 52:30 Career vision, nurse practitioner track, interest in women’s health and fertility* 1:00:00 Femininity and holistic care, patient story that shaped her philosophy* 1:07:00 Closing reflections, faith, gratitude, and hopes for impact at Miss USAI offer a limited number of private coaching sessions per month for women serious about elevating their pageant journey. Click below to book yours.https://thepageantproject.com/coachingPageantry is evolving, and you deserve coaching that’s more than surface-level. Book in if you’re ready to go beyond the crown. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thepageantproject.com/subscribe