How Zoey Daly Built Leadership Before High School
Zoey Daly remembers being seven years old when she was recruited into National American Miss, an invitation that would quietly shape the rest of her life. At that age, she was not chasing titles or recognition. She was simply curious. What began as a childhood opportunity became the environment where she learned how to speak, how to show up, and how to trust her voice.
Zoey Daly, Americas Fit Teen 2025, has grown up inside the pageant world, but she has never treated it like a costume she puts on. For Daly, pageantry became a training ground for confidence that carried into every part of her life. “What most people don’t understand about pageants is how much they help girls gain confidence in themselves,” she says.
As the years passed, pageantry became something deeply woven into her family life. Her sister joined. Her mother followed. In 2023, Daly and her mom competed and won together in the International system, a year she describes as unforgettable. Sharing a title year with her mother reshaped how Daly understood leadership. It was not about standing alone. It was about growing alongside the people who believed in her first.
Confidence as a Skill, Not a Trait
Daly does not speak about confidence as something she was born with. She speaks about it as something she practiced. Interviews taught her how to articulate her thoughts. Stage presence taught her how to stand still under pressure. Each competition sharpened her communication skills in ways she later realized extended far beyond pageant week.
“I know without a doubt that if I had not joined this world, I would not be the person I am today,” Daly says. That growth showed up early. By the time she was fourteen, her interview skills helped her secure a job, an opportunity she credits directly to pageantry.
Her confidence was tested again in middle school when she decided to write her first book. Daly was not waiting for permission or validation. She was working quietly, balancing schoolwork while writing a story she believed in. When the book was published and hit number one on Amazon in the teen fiction category, her world shifted.
“That opened so many doors,” she says. Television interviews followed, along with community appearances where she was suddenly speaking not just as a titleholder, but as an author.
Visibility With Purpose
Daly’s visibility is never passive. She uses it intentionally, especially when advocating for others. Her platform, Hearts for Hero’s, began when she noticed a gap that felt personal. “I saw that first responders were not being appreciated as much as I know they should be,” she explains.
Rather than waiting for a large organization to step in, Daly created one herself. Hearts for Hero’s gathered cards and snacks, assembling appreciation baskets for first responders in her community. She later partnered with Operation Gratitude to send letters to deployed military, extending her message of gratitude beyond local borders.
These actions reflect a leadership style rooted in observation and response. Daly notices what is missing, then fills the space.
Balancing Responsibility at a Young Age
As a freshman in high school, Daly balances being a student, a published author, a model, and a titleholder. Time management is not optional. It is essential. “Learning to manage my time is very important,” she says.
Her approach is simple and disciplined. She avoids procrastination, completes schoolwork early, and protects time for things that bring her joy, like writing her next book or helping her mom with her business.
This balance allows Daly to show up fully in each role without burnout. It is also a skill she encourages other young girls to develop early.
Looking Forward
Daly’s vision continues to expand. Inspired by other teens she has met through pageantry, she founded Teen Impact Magazine, a publication designed to spotlight young people making meaningful contributions. The first issue launches March 2026, a project she hopes will remind teens that age is not a limitation.
Her advice to those watching her journey is grounded and direct.
“Don’t give up,” she says. “You are never too young to accomplish great things in the world.”
Zoey Daly, Americas Fit Teen 2025, closes this chapter of her story not with a finish line, but with momentum.
“You will be surprised how many good things come out of pushing for just a little longer.”