Miss Represented: Miss Earth USA 2025 - Haley Poe [Episode 64]

Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Lisa Opie
Guest: Haley Poe, Miss Earth USA 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Miss Represented features a heartfelt and energetic conversation between host Lisa Opie and Haley Poe, the newly crowned Miss Earth USA 2025. Together, they explore Haley’s unique journey through pageantry and reality TV, her environmental advocacy focused on microplastic pollution, and her academic ambitions in the field of endocrinology. The discussion also dives into the highs and challenges of competing in a pageant-based reality show, the realities of being a woman in STEM, and the power of authentic leadership and womanhood.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

1. The Miss Earth USA Journey & Reality TV Experience

• Pageant Structure & Initial Experiences
  Haley shares her experiences from competing in Miss Earth USA – describing the traditional competition rounds, impactful speeches, and the transition into filming the reality series Pretty Down to Earth.

  • “It was traditional pageant style, so it was a little bit different than everything that happened following it. That was the easy part, I think.” (Haley, 02:08)

• Adjusting to Reality TV & Pageant Mode

  • Turning off the ever-present “pageant mode” was a challenge.
    • “The focus is to say the perfect thing at the perfect time…Learning to just be yourself and exist in front of camera is tough.” (Haley, 03:04, 03:11)

• Behind the Scenes: Challenges, Cold Shoots, and Bonding

  • Filming included unexpected cold weather, quirky challenges like digging through worms and milk bath photoshoots, and memorable bonding through adversity.
    • “We were troopers. The milk bath one was tough for me. I’m not a milk person. Truthfully, that was probably the hardest one for me.” (Haley, 05:14)
    • “The only thing that went wrong was just it being cold. But we all huddled together for warmth…and I think we got to bond a little bit more just because of proximity.” (Haley, 04:50)

• Surprise Interviews & Emotional Responses

  • The show included a dramatic “surprise interview” twist, creating genuine, high-adrenaline moments.
    • “We were told our interviews would be via Zoom after filming concluded. Obviously, that did not happen.” (Haley, 07:31)
    • “It was the best interview I’ve ever done in my life. I actually won high point interview.” (Haley, 10:46)

2. Sisterhood, Waiting, and the Reality of Competition

• Bonding with Contestants

  • A deep sense of camaraderie and emotional openness existed among the contestants.
    • “I probably need two hands to count the number of meltdowns I witnessed at filming because we were just very open with each other and I love that.” (Haley, 13:01)

• The Long Wait for Results

  • The format required contestants to wait months for the final results, fostering both anxiety and connection.
    • “We were able to openly talk about our feelings...That was nice. So it wasn’t that usual competition atmosphere.” (Haley, 12:31)

3. Science & Sparkle: Haley’s Academic Path and Advocacy

• Pursuing Medicine & Endocrinology

  • Haley is a biology graduate with early acceptance into medical school, planning to specialize in endocrinology.
    • “I actually got into medical school when I was 19 as an early acceptance program student.” (Haley, 15:30)
    • “I have polycystic ovary syndrome...It took me seven years to get a diagnosis...That made me want to be a doctor.” (Haley, 16:21)

• Microplastic Awareness Project (MAP)

  • Her environmental platform, MAP, educates about and advocates for action on microplastic pollution—a topic she connects to health via hormone-disrupting chemicals.
    • “My goal with MAP is to remove microplastics from the environment to keep them out of our bodies, and that'll protect our health and the planet at the same time.” (Haley, 16:47)

• Vital Education on Microplastics

  • Haley gives a candid breakdown of how ubiquitous and dangerous microplastics are in daily life—from water bottles and food containers to air and synthetic clothing.
    • “But they're also in the air all the time...Most of your clothing has some form of synthetic in it...they're just everywhere, all the time.” (Haley, 17:43)

• Changing Policy and Legislative Action

  • Haley has successfully advocated for microplastic legislation in Pennsylvania (House Bill 1415) and is pushing for federal action and warning labels.
    • “I had House Bill 1415 introduced back in April...that will require annual water testing for PFAS, which is a cancer-causing chemical found in microplastics.” (Haley, 20:02)
    • On legislative impact: “The best thing about being a pageant girl is the title and the crown gets you in whatever door you want to be in.” (Haley, 20:02)

4. Challenging Stereotypes: Womanhood in STEM & Leadership

• Overcoming Bias in Science and Medicine

  • Haley discusses discouragement from mentors who suggested she pick less rigorous paths simply for being a woman.
    • “I had physicians that I shadowed that told me to become a PA or to not go into medicine or to choose an easier specialty because I'm a woman.” (Haley, 22:18)
    • “Really, it doesn't matter. It's my choice what I want to do with my time.” (Haley, 22:51)

• Redefining Beauty and Brains

  • The importance of showing that women can be both “beautiful and smart,” serving as role models and changing perceptions in and out of STEM fields.

• Handling Criticism and Growing Through Visibility

  • Authenticity is central to Haley’s approach, especially in the face of online attention and criticism.
    • “Preparing for Pretty Down to Earth...one of the main things was that we all needed to learn how to calm down and just open up and just talk about our feelings.” (Haley, 28:57)

5. International Representation and Ambition

• Prepping for Miss Earth in the Philippines

  • Haley is focusing on media training and public communication, embracing interviews and speaking events to sharpen her skills for the global stage.
    • “The interview component weighs really heavily at Miss Earth. So I'm doing as many TV interviews and podcasts like this as I can.” (Haley, 26:53)

• Global Environmental Impact

  • Haley aims to use her platform to encourage both personal action (reducing plastic use) and policy change worldwide.

6. Personal Growth, Impact, and Advice

• Growth from the Crown

  • The journey has made Haley more confident, entrepreneurial, and impactful—both online and in person.
    • “It feels like I’m a different person than I was before I won just because I've elevated in so many ways.” (Haley, 31:02)

• Inspiring the Next Generation

  • Haley treasures opportunities to connect with young girls and serve as a real-life role model.

• Best Pageant Advice

  • “You are the one who determines whether or not you are enough. Just be yourself and put the work in.” (Haley, 34:14)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Being Yourself On Camera:
  “Learning to just be yourself and exist in front of camera is tough.”
  – Haley [03:11]

• On Pageant Bonding:
  “The only thing that went wrong was just it being cold...But we all huddled together for warmth and they would throw blankets on us between takes.”
  – Haley [04:50]

• On Advocacy and Change:
  “The best thing about being a pageant girl is the title and the crown gets you in whatever door you want to be in to talk about whatever you want to talk about.”
  – Haley [20:02]

• On Female Leadership:
  “We have women who are setting the example that you can be smart and beautiful at the same time and be taken seriously.”
  – Haley [22:49]

• On Dealing with Criticism:
  “Sometimes people don’t like to see you succeed, and you have to see that when it happens and move forward from it.”
  – Haley [24:35]

• On Authentic Growth:
  “It feels like I’m a different person than I was before I won...there is no limit to how much you can grow.”
  – Haley [31:02]

• On Pageant Advice:
  “At the end of the day, you just have to be yourself and put the work in.”
  – Haley [34:14]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:08] – Competing at Miss Earth USA: traditional format and transition to reality TV
• [04:05] – Fun (and cold!) reality show challenges & bond formation
• [07:31] – Surprise interviews: adrenaline, authenticity, and best-ever performance
• [12:25] – Sisterhood: daily Facetimes & emotional openness
• [15:30] – Academic journey: early med school acceptance & gap year for Miss Earth
• [16:21] – Advocacy: microplastics, environmental health, and personal connection
• [20:02] – Legislative wins, policy advocacy, and industry pushback
• [22:18] – Challenges as a woman in science and medicine
• [24:35] – Facing negativity and outgrowing unsupportive relationships
• [26:43] – Preparing for international competition: media & messaging focus
• [31:02] – Personal growth, legacy, and the role of a titleholder
• [34:14] – The best pageant advice for success (“Be yourself”)

Tone & Style

The conversation is open, enthusiastic, and supportive—full of “girl power” energy, practical wisdom, and real emotions. Haley and Lisa keep things candid, occasionally playful, and always rooted in the mission to uplift and empower.

Final Thoughts

This episode provides an inspiring look behind the crown, highlighting Haley Poe as both a passionate advocate for environmental health and an ambitious medical student—a perfect example of “science and sparkle.” The discussion seamlessly balances the glamour of pageantry with the importance of policy-driven activism and female empowerment, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the modern intersection of pageants, science, and social change.