Today we share with our readers, another contestant, as part of our series, “The Road to Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2018.” Next to be featured is the reigning Miss Chautauqua’s Outstanding Teen 2018, Zoë Belle Lowe. This high school junior is ready to share with our readers and the judges when she competes, as to why she is the best candidate to represent the title of Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2018! Continue reading to learn more about Zoë and her journey to the crown!

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For those who may not be familiar with you, tell our readers a bit about yourself and your background within the pageant world.
I’m a 17 year old high school junior, spending most of my time outside of school at my dance studio!  Pageants have always been a fun place for me to perform and I have made some amazing friends in the pageant world.  Fun fact: I hold my local Chautauqua Festival title now as its first Outstanding Teen, and when I was a little girl, I was Wee Miss Chautauqua (age 3) and Little Miss Chautauqua (age 7).

The four points of the Miss America crow represent: service, scholarship, style, and success.  Which one is the most important to you and why?
Service is the most important to me. The crown gives girls like me a something very special—a voice to do the work that we feel passionately about. The point on the crown that is for service is the heart of our organization.

During Isabella’s reign, what is one characteristic you’ve seen her bring forth as Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, and which do you hope to emulate if you were to win the title?
Isabella has been so dedicated and a fantastic titleholder!  One thing I would hope to emulate is her confidence and poise.  She has the ability to maintain cool and collected under the pressure of this job, and she is an incredible speaker and leader.


What have you learned from our current Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, Isabella, that’s can help you be a better Outstanding teen?
Isabella is passionate about finding something that is important to you, and using your skills to make a difference!  She has motivated me to work harder in my volunteer work, and encouraging others to do the same!

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My personal platform is “Help Save the Next Girl”, a non-profit organization that was founded by Gil Harrington, the mother of 20-year-old Virginia Tech student, Morgan Harrington, who was murdered after attending a concert.  The non-profit organization is dedicated to educating young people to make life saving choices to protect themselves and their friends.  We are also on the front lines advocating for victims.  “Help Save the Next Girl” chapters are opening all over the United States, and I’m focused on helping establish them in High Schools all over the Commonwealth of Virginia!   Many people in my generation think, “It couldn’t happen to me.”  My platform promotes an understanding that “it could happen to me, but I am prepared and educated if it does.”  Arming the women and teens of our communities with the knowledge to protect themselves and each other is not a luxury, but a necessity. I am excited to be a part of an organization that makes the safety of our future a promise rather than a possibility, and to show people everywhere exactly how they can “Help Save The Next Girl.”

If you were to win the title of Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, how do you hope to better educate your generation about your platform and the importance it holds?
I serve as the National Social Media Coordinator for “Help Save the Next Girl,” and I additionally started my own YouTube channel called “The Zoë Zone” where I discuss hot topics concerning teens today, personal testimonies from survivors, and post safety videos about self-defense and creative tips about how to deflect an attacker. As Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, my goal is to personally reach across the commonwealth and prevent the loss of the incredible young women.


Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
I’m so excited about the dance I’m doing for talent!  I’m dancing to “Strong” by Sonna Rele, from the live action movie, “Cinderella.”  I wanted to do something that little girls would watch, and love so much that they would want to dance as well!  The words to the song touched me, and the moment I heard it, I knew that it was the perfect song choice!   The lyrics include “Hold fast to kindness, your light shines forever and ever…I believe in you and me…We are strong.”  I think it’s the perfect message.

Having been in Pageants and after winning a local title, what advice do you have for those who want to start competing in the MAO system?
The best advice I can give is to absolutely BE YOURSELF!  The pageant world is changing, and there is no cookie cutter version of what anyone needs to be to be successful.  Break the mold, and be yourself!

Because of the way media and certain television networks have portrayed the lifestyle of pageantry, there is a preconceived notion of what a pageant girl is like.  How do you think that being a part of the Miss America Organization you are able to break that barrier?
I am a believer in leading by example.  I don’t think there is a way to convince people by talking…I think you convince people by DOING.  I live my life, and represent my title, in a way that I hope to inspire other young people to challenge themselves to do things they might not have otherwise done…to take chances and to get out of their comfort zone.  Pageantry has given me so many positive things in my life, and I hope to see it empower others….all while breaking those notions that all pageant girls are a certain ‘type’…because we definitely aren’t!

Regardless of who wins the title of Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, what is one goal which you have for them, which you hope they will accomplish during their reign?
For the new Miss VAOTeen, I hope she is able to embrace the title and inspire girls that would never have considered competing to come out and participate!  This organization is so life-changing, and I hope that many more young women will get involved!

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional.  Tell our readers what makes you “bravura.”
I love the word Bravura!! I like to think that I’m special, and even exceptional, because I strive to be a little bit better every single day!

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Facebook @misschautauquateen, and Instagram the_zoe_zone.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
I’m excited that you are learning about the program and I thank you for reading!   Share it with a young lady that could benefit from it and help her get involved!  It will change her life!