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Valentina Rodriguez Zapata discusses her experience with body positivity and the challenges she faced growing up in Miami. She shares her journey of being diagnosed with PCOS and Lipedema and the impact it had on her physical and mental health. Valentina emphasizes the importance of self-education and finding the right specialist who finally diagnosed her conditions. She also highlights the need for more awareness and understanding of these conditions in society. Valentina shares her journey of overcoming PCOS, losing weight, and embracing her body through self-love and plastic surgery. She discusses her experience in pageants and how it empowered her to reclaim her time and body. Valentina also talks about her education at Parsons and her passion for size-inclusive fashion. She shares her plans for a size-inclusive brand and her community service platform, the Linus Corporation. Additionally, Jules discusses her involvement with the American Cancer Society and her upcoming Relay for Life event. In this conversation, the guest discusses her involvement in fundraising for Relay for Life and her family's business in hospitality. She also talks about balancing her responsibilities as a pageant contestant and her plans for the future, including applying for grad school and getting back into fashion.

In this episode, Lisa Opie interviews Jules Corsi, the founder of True Beauty Glam and director of social media at Pageant Planet. They discuss their love for pageants and how they got started in the makeup industry. Jules shares her personal journey of using makeup as a form of therapy and how it helped her through difficult times. They also talk about their favorite makeup clients and the importance of good skin preparation before applying makeup. As professional makeup artists, Jules and the Lisa discuss various tips and tricks for makeup and hair for pageants. They also discuss the role of social media in pageantry and offer tips on growing social media accounts. The conversation covers various topics including the role of Instagram and TikTok, creating content for pageants, favorite pageant systems, managing a team, dealing with difficult clients, and the challenges of being a pageant title holder. In this part of the conversation, Jules and Lisa discuss their experiences as pageant title holders and the importance of sisterhood in the pageant community. They also talk about the competitive nature of pageants and the challenges they faced during their reigns. They touch on topics such as mental health awareness, anti-bullying, and the importance of being kind to oneself. They also share their thoughts on online bullying and how they deal with negative comments.

Heather Marie Thompson, former Miss Grand US Virgin Islands, shares her journey in the pageant world, from competing in Miss New York USA to Miss Grand International. She discusses the different areas of competition, the challenges she faced, and the friendships she made along the way. Heather also opens up about her experience of being hit by a truck and the impact it had on her mental health. She emphasizes the importance of practicing and feeling confident on stage, and announces her plan to compete in Miss New York USA 2024. In this conversation, Lisa Opie and Heather discuss their personal experiences with mental health issues and how it has affected their physical health. They emphasize the importance of advocating for one's own health and finding the right medication or treatment. They also discuss the role of neurodivergence in entrepreneurship and the need for a supportive team. The conversation touches on topics such as adapting to different situations, pursuing a career in construction and real estate, and the significance of mental health awareness.



Thank you to PinkApple Dresses for dressing us for this episode! 

Production by The Code Creatives 





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In this conversation, Keyace Sims discusses her journey in pageantry and the challenges she has faced as a performer. She talks about the stigma and stereotypes associated with being an entertainer and the need for inclusivity and empowerment in the pageant industry. Keyace also shares her experience as a coach and the importance of helping others find their voice and passion. She emphasizes the need for pageants to be about empowering women and respecting their career choices. The conversation touches on topics such as on-stage questions, body positivity, and the impact of pageantry on personal growth.



Lisa Opie and Keyace are both wearing PinkApple Dresses

Production by The Code Creatives

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In this conversation, Lisa Opie interviews Ann Pennington. They discuss Ann's journey in pageantry and modeling, her role as the director of Miss New Hampshire and Vermont USA, her charity work, and her passion for fashion and the environment. Ann shares her experiences and insights, emphasizing the importance of time management, confidence, and kindness. She also talks about the recent changes in pageantry, including the lifting of age restrictions, and the impact it will have on the competition.

Keep up with Ann: @realannpennington
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Production by the Code Creatives
Makeup and hair by Beauty by LadyCode

Nicole Petrie, a Sports Illustrated model and advocate for Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD), shares her journey as a caregiver and her experiences in the modeling industry. She discusses how she gained a large online following through TikTok by sharing videos of her daily life as a caregiver for her mother with FTD. Nicole explains the rare form of dementia and the challenges of getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. She also talks about her involvement with the Association of Frontal Temporal Dementia and her efforts to raise awareness for the disease. Additionally, Nicole shares her experiences modeling for Sports Illustrated, participating in pageants, and launching her own clothing line.



Production by The Code Creatives

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