When Zoe Scheiderich crowned the new Miss Tennessee last weekend, the moment marked the end of a year that changed her life. It also gave her a chance to finally catch her breath. “It took me about two days to decompress,” Scheiderich said with a laugh.
A year earlier, she had been standing in the very same place, waiting for the judges to announce the winner. Looking back, she admits she remembers very little about the moment her own name was called.
I think I completely blacked out, honestly,” she said.
Winning wasn’t something she expected. After all, she’d only been competing in the Miss Tennessee organization for three years, entering pageants primarily as a practical way to help pay for college. Compared to many of the other contestants, she considered herself relatively new to the system.
When her name was announced, disbelief quickly turned into gratitude. The first person she wanted to see wasn’t a pageant official or a photographer. It was her mom.
As Scheiderich reflects on everything she’s accomplished, it’s clear that her mother has been one of the biggest influences in her life.
When asked what makes their relationship special, Scheiderich didn’t hesitate.
“Mom was my first cheerleader, not my first bully.”
She knows that isn’t always the experience young women have in competitive activities. Through years of dance and pageantry, Scheiderich has seen families where pressure often overshadowed encouragement. Her own experience was different. Her parents consistently supported her dreams while giving her the freedom to discover who she wanted to become.
That freedom became especially important during her teenage years. Growing up, dance wasn’t simply an extracurricular activity. It was the plan. While other children sampled different sports, Scheiderich admits dance was the only one that ever truly captured her heart.
She attended soccer camp. She tried golf. Ballet was where she belonged.
Eventually, that passion led her to leave home earlier than most young people, moving to Chicago to pursue elite classical ballet training while completing her education through homeschooling.
That willingness to trust God’s direction continues to shape the way Scheiderich approaches life. Rather than mapping out every detail of the next decade, she’s learned to hold her plans with open hands.
This fall, she’ll travel to Nairobi, Kenya, where she’ll spend time serving on a mission focused on helping young girls escape forced tribal marriages. At the moment, the commitment is for a year. Will she stay longer? “I’m not sure,” Scheiderich said. She wants to allow herself the opportunity to experience the work before deciding what comes next.
When her mission work eventually concludes, another dream is waiting. Scheiderich hopes to build a career in sports broadcasting, ideally in New York City, with her sights set on one of the biggest names in sports media.
“ESPN,” she said with a smile.
It’s an ambitious goal, but one she’s willing to pursue while remaining open to wherever God may lead. And ballet? That chapter hasn’t completely closed. She still hopes dance remains part of her life, even if it no longer defines it.
Looking back, Scheiderich realizes every unexpected turn has prepared her for the next one. Dance led to confidence. Confidence opened doors to pageantry. Pageantry created opportunities for service. And now, service is leading her halfway around the world.
Perhaps that’s why, after a year wearing the Miss Tennessee crown, Scheiderich isn’t talking primarily about titles or trophies.
She’s talking about trust.
Trust in a mother who always believed in her.
Trust in a God whose plans often look different than our own.
And trust that sometimes the best dreams are the ones we never saw coming. GN
