This Mother’s Day is especially unique for Lebanon residents Miss Tennessee Zoe Scheiderich and her mom, Cortissa Scheiderich, as they end an era with Zoe concluding her reign in June.
"This past year we've gone through so much. As we move on to an even better chapter in life, I'm reminded how grateful I am for my mom," says Zoe. "There's no way anything in my life would be possible without her."
In a personal note to her mother via Lebanon City Lifestyle, Zoe stated: "You're so classy and graceful, you bring style into everything you do. You're leaving impossibly big shoes to fill for whoever becomes the next Miss Tennessee mom. So many women my age tell me how much they admire or want to be like you. Nobody can 'do it all' but you're as close as it can get. Thank you for always being my cheerleader and my referee, for always stepping up and supporting my endeavors. You show what it means to lead a Godly life of grace, humility and ambition. I love you, Mom."
While Cortissa admits the pageant era has been exhausting, frustrating and disappointing at times, she's quick to state it also was exciting, surprising, thrilling, rewarding and oh, so much fun.
"Zoe and I both caught the pageant bug, discovering a mutual love for pageantry, which increased our mother-daughter bond," explains Cortissa. "I’ve poured many hours into interview prep, we’ve traveled together countless hours across the state for appearances and preliminary competitions, even across state lines for pageant prep. I’ve made plenty of late-night and last-minute runs for forgotten items, supplements for sickness, snacks and energy drinks. I’ve shared ideas that weren’t embraced right away, but many that were."
This honed-in mother says it took lots of collaboration, many phone calls and networking conversations to open doors of opportunity for Zoe. "With all the sacrifice has come the tremendous satisfaction of seeing Zoe thrive, excel and have an incredible impact on many young women on this journey," she adds.
"Seeing my daughter perform on the Miss America stage was an opportunity of a lifetime."
Cortissa says it's been a tremendous joy to help Zoe discover new ways in which she can use her strengths and talents. "It’s not always been easy to invest the amount of time needed to support her, because we have four other children. Without the help of my husband, it wouldn't be possible. Our family makes sacrifices to support each other."
She says she reminds Zoe that God’s plans and timing are perfect. To make it all work, Cortissa says she and Zoe talk through options with each "seeking to understand, not just to be understood," and they pray to seek wisdom.
Their tips in enhancing mother-daughter relationships are:
- Spend intentional time together just to enjoy each other's company and learn about each other.
- Listen more than advising.
- Practice mutual respect.
- Humbly consider others and their interests more highly than yourself.
Zoe says Cortissa was her first cheerleader and not her first critic. "It wasn’t until later in life I realized how incredibly crucial that is."
From being a longtime dancer and now "a pageant girl," Zoe's seen how many kinds of mother/daughter relationships react to stress, victory and loss. "Every time, I become more grateful for the mother God gave me. There's something so special about having your mom be the first one to tell you that you're beautiful...smart...talented."
Zoe confirms her parents never minded what her dreams or aspirations were, but whatever she decided, she'd "better be great."
"We allowed Zoe to live away from home for four years to pursue professional classical ballet training. I was asked many times how I was able to do that. My answer was: I follow God’s plan for her life and not my own. I don’t try to fit her into a conventional safe mold or vicariously live through her," says Cortissa.
"A healthy relationship also looks like not just encouraging and lifting up to be liked by your daughter, but sharing tough truths we know will build their character."
Because this mother-daughter team has a fairly open relationship, they understand as much as they work beautifully together, they embrace each others’ unique decisions and assignments. Cortissa says, "My job is to be in the background teaching, encouraging, guiding and correcting for her to be the very best she can.
Since Cortissa suggested Zoe try the Miss America opportunity, Zoe says her mother went above and beyond with keeping her on track with planning appearances, prep and social media. Zoe adds that while Cortissa was actively involved, she didn't cross into being overbearing.
Zoe says she's witnessed various mother-daughter dynamics in the pageant environment, with the most common ones being “The Gilmore Girls” (friendship-based, even to the point of no boundaries); “The Coach” (relationship centered around child’s success in said competition); or "Amazing Moms" (conduct themselves as contestants' second moms).
With each Miss Tennessee being unique, Zoe says every contestant winner needs a different type of support. "I would advise any pageant mom to remember you both are in this together, but this is still her year. Being Miss Tennessee is an opportunity to increase independence, organizational skills and overall growth. The best thing a mother can do is be a solid rock their daughter can fall back on when things get overwhelming or when they need extra support."
Zoe Scheiderich, 22, is a Middle Tennessee State University student studying entertainment journalism. In June 2025 she was crowned Miss Tennessee, and placed in top 11 at the Miss America Competition.
Cortissa Scheiderich is a wife, mother, speaker, Bible teacher and home educator who hosts women’s retreats/boutique conferences locally.