Miss Represented Podcast: Episode 61 - Featuring Erica Lee, Miss Mission USA

Release Date: August 13, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 61 of the Miss Represented Podcast, host Lisa Opie welcomes Erica Lee, Miss Mission USA from Iowa, to discuss her multifaceted journey as a beauty queen, artist, and passionate advocate against food insecurity. Recorded live from Miami Swim Week in South Beach, this episode offers listeners an intimate look into Erica's personal missions, artistic endeavors, and the profound impact of pageantry on her life.

Miss Mission USA: Empowering Women with Purpose

Miss Mission USA is an organization dedicated to empowering women aged 18 to 34 from diverse backgrounds to pursue specific missions or platforms they are passionate about. Erica Lee elaborates on the inclusivity and diversity of the organization:

“Miss Mission is an organization that really focuses on helping women that have a specific mission or specific goal or a platform they want to promote... It’s very, very diverse.”
— Erica Lee [01:07]

Erica’s mission centers on combating food insecurity, inspired by her father's experiences growing up in Vietnam during wartime scarcity:

“My mission has to do with food insecurity... my dad grew up very food insecure. He lived in Vietnam for a long time.”
— Erica Lee [01:35]

Artistry and Passion: Erica’s Creative Journey

An accomplished artist and art teacher, Erica has been passionate about drawing and painting since childhood. She transitioned into professional art at age 12, beginning to sell her work and later focusing on fine art education. Erica shares her enthusiasm for oil painting, describing it as a forgiving and dynamic medium:

“Oil painting is kind of fun... you can change things. If you hate how the painting looks, you just paint over it.”
— Erica Lee [02:49]

Her latest project features a striking piece that blends human and zebra imagery with vibrant, rainbow colors, symbolizing her mixed heritage and love for unique patterns.

“The face is all in black and white, and the eye of the face is like this beautiful, like, rainbow color for the iris... the zebra itself is just all, like, rainbow colors.”
— Erica Lee [03:58]

Advocacy: Nourishing Our Neighbors

Erica founded Nourishing Our Neighbors in 2024, focusing on addressing food insecurity within local communities. She emphasizes the importance of community involvement and collaboration with organizations like Hey Cap, which manages a large food reservoir in eastern Iowa.

“Nourishing our neighbors essentially focuses on... the people that need the most help could just be someone around the corner or your neighbor.”
— Erica Lee [05:02]

Erica outlines practical ways listeners can get involved:

“The biggest way people can get involved... is just going to your local food pantry. Ask if they need donations or if you can volunteer your time.”
— Erica Lee [06:30]

Pageant Journey: Building Confidence and Community

Erica has been actively competing in pageants for six years, with Miss Mission USA being her latest title. She reflects on how pageantry transformed her self-esteem and public speaking skills:

“I had really low self-esteem growing up... that single moment, when I looked in the mirror and saw myself, brought me so much confidence.”
— Erica Lee [09:28]

Her experience with Miss Mission USA was marked by a supportive community and memorable moments, such as a spontaneous pajama rehearsal:

“We just had like a little pajama rehearsal and slippers and everything. It was so fun.”
— Erica Lee [12:54]

Personal Stories: Overcoming Adversity

A standout moment in the podcast is Erica’s story about injuring her finger a week before the competition. Despite the setback, she triumphed and won the pageant, affectionately naming her enduring scar Steve.

“I was cutting an avocado... I ended up having to call my mom... they ended up gluing my finger back together with super glue.”
— Erica Lee [16:41]

Her resilience and positive outlook turned a painful experience into a cherished memory, demonstrating her unwavering spirit.

Future Plans and Current Endeavors

During Miami Swim Week, Erica is focused on networking and exploring opportunities within the fashion and pageant industries, areas less prevalent in her hometown of Iowa. She looks forward to hosting a unique paint and sip class at the upcoming Mission USA pageant in Orlando, aiming to foster camaraderie and creativity among contestants.

“I want to host a paint and sip class... it's a fun little icebreaker for the girls.”
— Erica Lee [15:34]

Advice for Aspiring Contestants

Erica emphasizes the importance of being present and enjoying the pageant experience beyond the competition itself:

“Be present in the week. Come into pageant week with more than just the goal of winning... focus on making new friends and soaking up the experience.”
— Erica Lee [15:34]

Her advice encourages contestants to value personal growth and community over merely securing a title.

Fun Segment: This or That

In the interactive "This or That" segment, Erica shares her preferences, highlighting her love for teaching art, volunteering, pageant preparation, and trying new foods. Her passion for culinary adventures is rooted in her Vietnamese heritage:

“Whenever I go to a new place, I always love trying new things. I’m a big foodie.”
— Erica Lee [19:53]

Connect with Erica Lee

Listeners eager to follow Erica’s journey can connect with her through Miss Mission USA and her personal pageant page, Miss Erica Lee Pageant. Stay updated on her advocacy work, artistic projects, and future pageant endeavors by following her on social media.

“Check out what I’m going to be up to on the Miss Mission page. It’s going to be so much fun.”
— Erica Lee [21:25]

Conclusion

Episode 61 of the Miss Represented Podcast offers an inspiring narrative of Erica Lee’s dedication to art, advocacy, and pageantry. Her story underscores the power of confidence, community service, and embracing one’s passions to drive meaningful change. Listeners are left motivated to engage in their communities and pursue their own missions with the same fervor and resilience.

Follow Erica Lee:

• Miss Mission USA: [Miss Mission USA Social Media Handle]
• Miss Erica Lee Pageant: [Miss Erica Lee Pageant Social Media Handle]

Stay tuned for more empowering stories and insightful conversations on the Miss Represented Podcast!