Become the Queen Before You Win the Crown with Marie Zoe Lapierre

What if the biggest transformation of your pageant journey has nothing to do with the crown?In this episode, Maria sits down with Marie-Zoé, a microbiologist, scientist, podcast host, nonprofit leader, and Miss Canada 2026 First Runner-Up and People’s Choice winner, to talk about what happens when you stop preparing to become a titleholder and start showing up as one now. If you’re coming back to pageantry after a break, building a platform, or wondering how to handle the unexpected without losing yourself, this conversation is for you.In this episode, we cover:💛 Why pageant girls never really retire: and what brought Marie-Zoé back to the stage after several years away💛 Building your brand and platform **before** worrying about how you’ll present it on a pageant stage💛 How showing up as the woman you want to become can create opportunities you never expected💛 What to do when things go sideways: including having your pageant gown break just weeks before competition💛 Why your crown, your wardrobe, or your placement cannot determine your identity or your impactMeet Marie-ZoéMarie-Zoé is a French Canadian microbiologist, graduate student, podcast host, public speaker, and nonprofit leader from Quebec.After competing in Miss Canada in 2021, she returned to the pageant world in 2026 with a new platform: Balado Hors Labo (Outside the Lab Podcast). She went on to finish First Runner-Up and People’s Choice, while building a podcast that has opened doors to scientific conferences, media opportunities, nonprofit leadership, and so much more.✨ Resources + Ways to Work Together:Life After the Crown TrainingJoin Maria for Life After the Crown, where she teaches the three biggest components of building a personal brand that gets you known, remembered, and paid.https://thepageantgal.kartra.com/page/life-after-the-pageant)Apply for The Queen Collective:https://www.thepageantgal.com/the-queen-collectiveDM me on Instagram with your biggest takeaway from this episode:https://www.instagram.com/thepageantgal✨ Ascension Retreat | September 25–27, 2026 | Windsor, Ontario💛 Let’s ConnectIf this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear about it!Send me a DM on Instagram and let me know your biggest takeaway from today’s conversation. I love hearing what speaks to you and cheering you on in your own journey.