Miss Represented: Miss Earth USA Fire 2025 - Ta'ya Imaage Hazelwood

Podcast: Miss Represented
Host: Lisa Opie
Episode: 67
Date: October 8, 2025
Guest: Ta'ya Imaage Hazelwood (Miss Earth USA Fire 2025 Finalist)

Episode Overview

This vibrant episode features Ta'ya Imaage Hazelwood, a standout Miss Earth USA Fire 2025 finalist, educator, model, and cheer coach, renowned for her unapologetic confidence and advocacy for self-expression and sustainability. Host Lisa Opie dives deep with Ta'ya on her journey from Milwaukee to the pageant stage, the lessons she’s learned in her first-ever pageant, her foray into cryptozoology, sisterhood on reality TV, and the power of manifesting confidence. The tone is supportive, lively, and honest, blending inspiring advice with fun personal stories and memorable moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ta'ya's Path to the Miss Earth USA Fire Final

• First-Ever Pageant Experience
  • Ta'ya reveals this is her first pageant, surprising many because of her transformation and presence.

    “Yes, this is my first pageant ever. And a lot of people don't know that.” (03:43)

• Lady Code Challenge & Palette Concept
  • The Lady Code challenge required contestants to create and pitch a makeup palette. Ta'ya’s concept, "Pilates Princess," reflected her journey embracing femininity and self-discovery through shades of pink, magenta, and burgundy.

    “...exploring the different facets of myself as a woman.” (02:44)

• Coaching & Growth
  • Ta'ya credits coach Joanne Romero Martinez for being “the first person to really believe in me in this industry” and providing honest feedback that fueled her growth.

    “He gave me another sense of confidence that I needed...” (04:05)

2. Background: Growing up in Milwaukee

• Diversity and Segregation
  • Milwaukee’s unique demographic shaped Ta'ya’s resilience; she often navigated diverse yet segregated environments.

    “Milwaukee is very diverse, but it's also the most segregated city in the nation.” (05:07)

• First Time as ‘Only’
  • Pageantry brought new challenges, being the first setting where she was “the only Black girl.”

    “That was something new, and it was an experience I had to prepare for mentally… hands down, probably the best week of my life.” (05:07)

3. Motivation for Entering Pageantry

• Watching "Toddlers and Tiaras" spurred her curiosity, though her father’s encouragement came later. She almost didn’t apply, finally submitting her application late one night in May.

  “It's really one of those things where you just have to do it. You can't overthink it. If you really want to do something, it's worse to regret it 20 years later that you didn't try it.” (08:10)

4. Leadership & Cheerleading

• Skills Translation
  • Over a decade in cheerleading and later coaching her high school team honed her leadership, adaptability, and teamwork, preparing her for the dynamics of a shared pageant house.

    “My interaction with women came from the cheer team. And I think that those interactions is what prepared me for... staying in a house with 10 other girls.” (09:21)

5. Unique Interests: Cryptozoology

• Ta'ya delights in studying creatures of legend (Sasquatch, Loch Ness monster, mermaids) and recently hosted a cryptozoology conference.

  “Cryptozoology is the study of animals that are either extinct or have not been scientifically proven to exist.” (10:19)

• Belief in Sasquatch

  “I do now… And that could be a whole nother episode in itself.” (10:42)

• Mermaids & Cultural Myths

  “A lot of those myths or cryptids, so we say, come from... African spirituality.” (11:54)

6. Reality TV Experience

• Authenticity on Screen
  • Approaching the show, Ta'ya was determined to be herself, believing authenticity translates best to the audience.

    “I really approached the reality show of 'I'm going to be 100% myself at all times.'” (13:54)

• Memorable Challenge: The Worms
  • Fun recall of a "worm digging" challenge, highlighting who handled it best.

7. Sisterhood & Camaraderie

• The strongest element of Ta'ya’s pageant journey has been building genuine friendships and support networks among contestants.

  “We’re bonded for life. Like, these girls can never get rid of me at this point. I talk to them almost every day.” (15:11)

• Supportive Competition

  “We are really genuinely happy for each other. Like when Maddie won, I was so excited for her.” (16:06)

8. Childhood Lessons & Confidence

• Family Dynamics
  • Growing up as the only girl among many male cousins, Ta’ya gained “thick skin” and learned to be both assertive and nurturing.
• Learning to Stand Up for Herself
  • She explains it was adulthood and repeated experience (“you experience the same person in a different body”) that taught her to speak up.

    “You have to be classy and polite, but you also have to know when to stand up for yourself. And that is something that I learned later in life.” (17:39)

9. Philosophy: Manifesting Confidence and Impact

• Preparation and Mentality
  • Focuses on claiming her goals with “I am” statements, modeling active manifestation for her students and peers.

    “You are exactly what you think you are... you have to already claim what it is that you want to be and what you are.” (19:41)

  • Reference to a reality show exercise on positive affirmations.
• Impactful Legacy

  “I think making an impact is based on the way you make people feel when you walk into a room and you interact with them.” (20:45)

10. Long-term Vision

• Ta'ya sees herself long-term with the Miss Earth USA organization, serving in multiple roles, and continuing community impact.

  “I always see myself involved with Miss Earth USA in some way, shape, form, or fashion... I just can't see myself anywhere else.” (21:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Self-Discovery:

  “I just started wearing pink. So when I got into this whole phase of discovering who I am as a woman, that is really when I got comfortable wearing pink.” (02:44)

• On Coach Joanne:

  “He was the first person in the pageant industry to actually see me. He gave me another sense of confidence...” (04:05)

• On Sisterhood:

  “We’re bonded for life. Like, these girls can never get rid of me at this point.” (15:11)

• On Impact:

  “I think making an impact is based on the way you make people feel when you walk into a room and you interact with them.” (20:45)

• On Manifesting Success:

  “When I got my state title... I was already Miss Wisconsin Earth in my head by the time I hit submit on the application.” (19:41)

• On Affirmation:

  “Use 'I am' statements. …That is the mindset that I try to carry… and I try to instill in all my students and athletes.” (21:20)

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|-----------| | Lady Code Challenge/Palette Concept | 01:39-03:30| | First Pageant Experience/Transformation | 03:43-05:00| | Growing up in Milwaukee / Representation | 05:07-06:47| | Introduction to Pageantry | 07:19-08:21| | Cheerleading/Coaching & Confidence | 08:44-10:11| | Cryptozoology & Sasquatch Chat | 10:11-13:36| | Reality TV: Authenticity & Challenges | 13:54-15:30| | Sisterhood/Camaraderie | 15:30-17:08| | Childhood Dynamics & Finding Her Voice | 17:19-18:52| | Manifestation/Philosophical Advice | 19:41-21:16| | Long-term Vision with Miss Earth USA | 21:55-22:34|

Fun This-or-That Rapid Fire Q&A (24:16–26:37)

• Pep talk in the mirror or hype from your team?
  “Hype from my team.”
• Pageant walk or cheer routine?
  “Cheer routine, because I do them in my sleep.”
• Bigfoot or Loch Ness Monster?
  “Bigfoot.”
• UFO sighting or ghost encounter?
  “UFO sighting. Because I've... I want to see one from a distance again.”
• Fact check everything or trust your gut?
  “Fact check and then trust your gut.”
• Reality TV or real life transformation?
  “Real life transformation.”

Where to Follow Ta'ya

• Instagram: @tayaimage (T A Y A I M A G E)

Tone & Takeaways

Lisa and Ta'ya’s friendly, open, and empowering conversation charts the multi-dimensional journey of a modern pageant contestant. Listeners get actionable advice about confidence and manifestation (“You are exactly what you think you are”), warm laughs over cryptid lore, and insider perspective on the real-life bonds formed through the Miss Earth USA experience. More than a discussion on pageants, this episode resonates with anyone pursuing self-growth, leadership, and authentic connection.