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The Undercurrent is a biweekly news feature show written and produced by students from Michigan State University. Each episode explores multiple stories surrounding one central theme.
Eighty eight point nine, the impact. You're listening to undercurrent.
Kennedy DeMars:Hello, everybody, and welcome back to season 16 episode five of the undercurrent. The undercurrent is a news feature podcast through impact eighty nine FM where I share exciting stuff going on in our community and around campus. Last week, we were able to have on four members of different dance organizations around campus and hear about everyone's unique stories and their connections to dance. You can listen to previous episodes on Spotify, Apple Music, and anywhere else you may get your podcasts. This week, I have the privilege of welcoming on Madison Nero.
Kennedy DeMars:Madison is a senior here at MSU, and she'll be receiving her bachelor's in advertising management this December. She'll be representing the Northeast at Miss Earth USA twenty twenty six this January 3 in Orlando, Florida and is currently the president of Citizens Climate Lobby MSU. She's also a previous national title holder of Miss Earth USA Water twenty twenty five and has spent the past year advocating for climate action, meeting with lawmakers in Washington DC, and speaking to younger students about making sustainability accessible through her initiative called metamorphosis with Madison. From the capital to the classroom, she is proving that sustainability can be modern, creative, and powerful, all while representing the green spirit of MSU. Hi, Madison.
Kennedy DeMars:Thanks so much for coming on today. How are you? I'm doing so good.
Madison Nero:Thank you so much for having me.
Kennedy DeMars:Of course. I'm so excited to have you here. Okay. So what I really wanna know first is your experience with Miss Earth. You obviously have a very long list of accomplishments, but one that really stands out to me is that previous national title.
Kennedy DeMars:Could you tell me a little bit about what this title is?
Madison Nero:Absolutely. So last year, I had the opportunity to compete for Miss Earth USA in a pretty exciting way. So the format changed, and the top 12 contestants at Miss Earth USA got the opportunity to become national finalists and compete for the title of Miss Earth USA on the first ever pageant reality series called Pretty Down to Earth. So I got to showcase all of my pageant skills and advocacy on a TV show and on a national pageant stage. And through that experience, I was able to place as the second runner-up as miss at Miss Earth USA and earn the title of Miss Earth USA water.
Madison Nero:Throughout this year, I've just been continuing my advocacy, and I'm excited to
Kennedy DeMars:be competing again in 2026 and hopefully taking home the Miss Earth USA crown. Oh my gosh. That's so exciting. So I saw that you'll be traveling to Orlando in just a little over a month for the competition again. How are you feeling about that?
Madison Nero:I feel more prepared than ever. This will be my third year competing in the Miss Earth USA system, but pageants have really transformed my life from the first time I've ever done them. I really knew that this was the space for me. I grew up in an abusive household, so really being able to find my power and strength in my voice and using that, to really make a powerful impact on this planet has been something super inspirational to me, and I hope to continue instilling that into the next generation as the next Miss Earth USA.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. That sounds amazing, Madison. Thank you. So what are the kinds of things that you do to prepare to represent the Northeast?
Madison Nero:Oh, I love this question. I'm very grateful about all the support that I get here at MSU. I go to the dance studio very often to practice my runway walk. I've been really working on that to be prepared to compete at an international level. I want to show that confidence and show off all my hard work.
Madison Nero:I I'm also going to the gym every single day. I also am lucky enough to have a free Hotworks membership thanks to Miss Earth USA as well. So always keeping up with my physical health is really important too. I also love, love, love the interview aspects of pageantry. I think our conversations and just speaking to people is the most impactful and powerful thing we can do.
Madison Nero:So just continuing to use my voice is really important to me.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. Awesome. So with all these preparations that you do, how is it like balancing that with like your school life and anything else you do outside of pageants?
Madison Nero:I will say that I have made pageants my whole life a little bit, but I have had to recognize that I became good at pageantry because of a a lot of the other aspects of my life that I've been growing in. So whether that's, becoming better at marketing and advertising through school and being able to apply that to pageants, and seeing that confidence grow in that aspect has been great. I am graduating early, so I think I've been able to balance everything pretty well. But just maintaining that confidence in knowing I'm on the right path in my career and in pageantry.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. Do you have any advice for anyone who maybe is like doing the same thing and is trying to balance all of those things? But I know it can be difficult with like different majors and things people are studying at school. Like, what is your advice for people who are doing on on a similar path, I guess?
Madison Nero:I think for someone in my space, it's more about doing what you love than necessarily doing everything right. I would encourage people to not be afraid to fail, to always be putting yourself out there, to think creatively. That has gotten me far. I would rather, you know, not place as well and be able to show my personality or not do as well on a project, but be able to show that I thought creatively about it. So always take those risks and be yourself, throughout everything you do.
Kennedy DeMars:Awesome. Thank you. Alright. So I wanna know a little bit more about your experience doing pageants. I know you said you've been doing them for a while, like, growing up.
Kennedy DeMars:What was that experience like for you?
Madison Nero:Yeah. So the first pageant I ever watched was, I think, Miss Universe twenty fifteen when Steve Harvey messed up the announcement for who the winner was. So that was obviously a good introduction.
Kennedy DeMars:I remember that one. I literally remember watching that.
Madison Nero:Right. Was a good introduction to the industry. But I saw my cousin compete for Miss New York Teen USA. And I honestly never ever thought that could be me when I was watching her at 14 years old. But just a few years later, I was placed into my aunt and uncle's custody after growing up in an abusive household for many years.
Madison Nero:And when I was placed into my aunt and uncle's home, I started to finally gain that confidence in myself that I was deserving of chasing after my dreams, of doing bigger things, and being confident in myself. And that was really the start of building all of that in pageantry. And when I did compete, I ended up doing well. So that just showed me that my efforts and my dreams were not there for no reason. And since then, I've just been chasing them wholeheartedly and it's definitely felt like the right thing to do.
Madison Nero:That's amazing.
Kennedy DeMars:So you've obviously learned so much and been through so much in your pageants and outside of that as well. How do you learn what you used what you or how do you use what you learned growing up doing pageants today?
Madison Nero:I love this question. So I only started competing at 16, but I think the biggest thing that pageantry has taught me that I carry on now is to lead with my heart in everything that I do. To lead with love is what I like to say. As someone who struggled growing up with my family, I found a lot of my safe space with my grandma. She really made me feel safe, loved, nurtured, and cared for.
Madison Nero:And seeing somebody lead with so much heart care for every living creature around them. I like to say she was the real life Snow White. But that inspiration, that love that she led with is something that I apply in pageantry and will continue to for the rest of my life.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. I love that. I feel like having such a deep passion for whatever you're doing in life is so important and you can, like, it's so like, I can tell, like, that totally you totally, like, embody that and I love that that you, like, carry that through your life. That's amazing. Do you have, like, a specific memory from doing pageants growing up that you can pinpoint that's, like, your favorite?
Madison Nero:Oh. You know, filming pretty down to earth, even though it was a nontraditional pageant, I think that was probably where I got my best pageant memories. We were staying up to, like, 02:00 in the morning just, like, having girl talk and chatting about, you know, every little thing that comes to our mind, and it's those bonding experiences that you really remember. We were out all the way in Syracuse, New York, and we got to go on the lake and really just be involved with the earth and putting ourselves out there. And that's exactly what I want to continue doing is just, you know, being with the people I love and doing the things that I love.
Madison Nero:So the memories are are countless. Yeah.
Kennedy DeMars:Oh, I love that. So I know you've been the founder of a few different initiatives. Mhmm. I really wanna know about Madison Studios and Co and what exactly that is. Absolutely.
Kennedy DeMars:So I am proud
Madison Nero:to have started my own small business where I give full service pageant coaching to the next generation of pageant competitors, also incorporating my social media and makeup artistry as a part of that business. As somebody who found so much of her life's purpose through pageantry, I wanted to be able to give that back to the next generation of competitors. I used to wanna be a teacher, but then when I got into pageantry, I knew that this path was for me. I had to stay on it. So being able to combine that love for teaching with my love for pageantry and inspiring the next generation of youth has been my biggest dream.
Madison Nero:I've had a lot of incredible mentors in the pageant industry. My coaches have been great, and I would love to just be one of those coaches that does what I've done. What what who's I would love to be one of the coaches who have done what my coaches have done for me.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. I love that. So what was your process like in starting this initiative, like, from the ground up, I'm assuming?
Madison Nero:Yeah. So it was something that I did all on my own. I knew graduating early that I had to get my career started if I wanted to, you know, get these connections in the pageant world and, you know, make my dreams a reality. And I just decided that it wasn't too early to start. I may be 21.
Madison Nero:I may not have be graduated yet, but I made my own website. I do my own marketing for it. I've done everything on my own. And I really think that when I'm reaching out to people, when I'm marketing for the business, I just wanna show that this is me not only giving back, but it's me doing my biggest passion. And I think when we are living our passions, we're making the biggest impact.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. Do you have any advice for those wanting to start an initiative or a business of their own?
Madison Nero:I would say to think about what you want the overall brand messaging to be before you get into anything. I really have found so many different inspirations in my life. I could sit here and talk to you all day about anything probably. But being able to hone in on, like, who is really going to appreciate what you're putting out there, who is really going to be your core audience and feel attached to that brand messaging is important. I really just have continued to show throughout my messaging, whether it's in patentry or within my business that I want it to be very personal, very, yourself.
Madison Nero:And that's exactly what I do in patentry and with Madison Studios and Co. It's all about being you.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. Definitely. So I know you also have a a collaboration with Lady Code Cosmetics and you developed your own palette. Tell me a little bit about that collaboration and this makeup palette that you created.
Madison Nero:Yes. So one of the challenges on pretty down to earth was for the top 11 finalists to pitch the newest Lady Code palette to the team. Mhmm. So as soon as I saw this idea, I started freaking out. I grew up in, like, the very 2016 crazy makeup era of it all, and I was so into all of that.
Madison Nero:I used to have a makeup account, worked at a makeup store. Like, I did I did it all. I did makeup artistry, and I'm hoping to get back into that as I as I get older. But when I saw that challenge, my palette idea immediately came to mind, and it is called the story of you. It is a palette all about memories, storytelling, and really just connecting every shade to a memory or core story in our lives.
Madison Nero:So I'm reflecting back on those memories that I've had with my grandma or throughout filming pretty down to earth, and every shade is named after each of those memories. So we're putting those colors on our face and telling a story with color, but also literally telling a story with the lady code shops palette. And it was incredible that I even had the opportunity to do that considering every finalist got to pitch a palette and they selected my idea. I was incredibly honored. You can shop at theladycodeshop.com, and it is a palette that I think really anyone can use full of neutrals, sparkles.
Madison Nero:And I think you making a palette that everyone could find meaning in and also find a lot of great makeup use in. Yeah.
Kennedy DeMars:So this is so random. I don't know if you're, a Taylor Swift fan, but the inspiration behind your palette reminds me of, like, the love the lover album, how, like, all the songs come from, like, specific, like, little memories in her life. And I feel like they totally, like, go hand
Madison Nero:in hand. Oh my god. I didn't even think of that. You know, my inspiration actually came from like Inside Out and Ariana Grande's short film where she was looking back at her memories, but I totally will have to look into the Lover era now.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. Just the story behind the album, like, I feel like that totally, like, goes with, like, your whole story and I think that's super cool.
Madison Nero:Love the connection.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. What is so creating, I know you kinda went into this, like, with the inspiration, but what is the process trying to create an entire makeup palette? Like, I know I'm not I love makeup, but I'm not super knowledgeable with, like, the beauty industry. Like, what is it like, like, putting together the different colors, like, arranging them with the palette? What is that like?
Madison Nero:So I got to work very closely with the owner of the Lady Code shop, Lisa Opie, to create a fully cruelty free and vegan palette. Mhmm. So we got to look at hundreds and hundreds of say shades together, selecting the matte shimmers, moving them around. I played a big role in selecting them with along with her help and naming all of them. I wanted the process to feel very natural, and she definitely allowed for that to happen.
Madison Nero:I came to them with a pretty well thought out idea already with a storyboard, with an idea of how I wanted the palette to look, the campaign, the photoshoots. We focused a lot on that reflective imagery and storytelling throughout the piece and the palette. So there's a lot of mirror images, a lot of metallics in it to really emphasize that reflective impact when we think back on our memories.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. That's cool. So have you always been interested in makeup in the beauty industry?
Madison Nero:Yeah. I would say so. I think I found a lot of my peace in the creative industry, in the beauty industry. Coming from an abusive household, I often found my peace at my vanity. Like, you know, drawing on my face for five hours a night, like figuring out how to do a cut crease when I'm 14 years old by myself in my room.
Madison Nero:You know, those are my greatest memories of, you know, learning confidence in myself and building myself up in any way that I could. So makeup has always been a really big part of me, but I think it's important to see, like, the roots of our makeup journey because, like, as women, like, as people who wear makeup, we see, like, so much growth from, I think, the point we start wearing it to where we are now and being able to have makeup still be such a big part of my life. It's it's amazing.
Kennedy DeMars:Definitely. I feel like those, like, makeup tutorials in, like, 2016, it was like the crazy colors like the James Charles palette. Like that's such like a core memory I feel like for so many girls. And then you like it slowly evolves but like starting out it's like crazy. But you do, I feel like definitely like develop your own style and it just comes with time.
Madison Nero:For sure. I have all of those palettes. I have enough eyeshadow to last us multiple lifetimes, I'm sure.
Kennedy DeMars:Oh, wow. I love it. Perfect. So tell me about your time with Citizens Climate Lobby and kind of your role in that.
Madison Nero:Yeah. So when I came to MSU, I really wanted to find a student led initiative that was climate focused. Already being a part of Miss Earth USA, I had advocacy within the cruelty free beauty space, but I wanted to do something that would really make an impact on future generations. My grandma really inspired me to take care of this earth and to leave something that is going to outlast us all, like, leading with our hearts. So I wanted to do something that would make an impact in this community and beyond.
Madison Nero:So Citizens Climate Lobby is a nonpartisan, nonprofit grassroots climate organization, and we push congress to address and implement climate policy. We do this through simple conversations, building these connections with representatives. Actually, just this week, I met with representative Tim Walberg and representative Mike Lawler, through CCL's fall lobby conference. So, not only did I get to lobby on Capitol Hill in DC with CCL, but now I get to lead, the MSU chapter here as the president. So seeing that advocacy work really branch out is has been beautiful for me because as someone in advertising, I didn't really think that there was a way I could get involved with policy, with politics without it being controversial or without, you know, people thinking in thinking about it.
Madison Nero:But when you really get down to the nitty gritty, I'm doing completely volunteer based work, lobbying simply is just conversations. And I think it's important to recognize that you don't have to be the president to make a difference. You can just be you, and there are so many ways to make your voice heard, in bigger ways than you can ever even imagine. So CCL has been a great way for me to be able to do that.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. That sounds amazing. What is it like talk like being a college student and like talking to these congress people who like have such like a big role in our government? What is it like doing that?
Madison Nero:I honestly didn't think that those rooms were a place that I belonged in at first, but I think now it feels very correct. Because ultimately, we have to use our voice to advocate. The earth cannot speak for itself, and our kids, our future generations are going to be the ones suffering if we don't make this impact now. So the effects of climate change are are starting, and I don't want my kids' Earth to be impacted by the actions that I take today. So it's just being considerate about the future, con leading with love, and putting that love in action through CCL has definitely been, the most important thing for me.
Madison Nero:So talking with those representatives, I think, is a form of love for the future, I'd say.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. When did you start getting interested in, like, sustainability?
Madison Nero:Yeah. So growing up, my mom would take me to Goodwill all the time, and I honestly was not a fan. I didn't get it. I was like, why are we wearing other people's clothes, mom? What is going on?
Madison Nero:But that was my first introduction to that type of space. Mhmm. It was never something prevalent in my life. Like, we drank out of plastic water bottles. I shopped on Shein growing up.
Madison Nero:I went to the mall every weekend. You know, it was not something that I thought about. But now as the next Miss Earth USA, I want to show people that you can really meet yourself where you're at. It's starting with going to the thrift store and buying your clothes. I'm wearing a thrifted outfit right now.
Madison Nero:If you even if you can see me. But wearing cruelty free beauty, doing those simple things first is what is going to allow you to then propel yourself to maybe be involved with CCL or to take that next step in your sustainability journey and it only will grow from there.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. I know, like, you've talked a lot about, like, thrifting, like wearing thrifted clothes. Yeah. Do you think, like, over consumption within the context of, like, clothes is, like, an issue in our society right now?
Madison Nero:Absolutely. Mhmm. It takes, I believe, 70 gallons of water just to make one T shirt. Wow. Yes.
Madison Nero:We have enough clothes on this planet to dress multiple generations. Mhmm. So I have honestly just found a lot of joy in thrifting and, like, the hunt for all of that stuff. And I think when you realize the impact that, like, every individual action you make, it is so much more empowering to to then do those things because you don't always have to do what's popular. You don't have to buy the trendiest dress.
Madison Nero:You don't have to follow what your friend is doing or buy the cutest thing that you saw on TikTok shop. You know? There is a way to to do it sustainably. And it doesn't mean that it's gonna be less than. It doesn't mean it's not gonna be fun.
Madison Nero:And it is totally something that I think everyone can really start with. And I just wanna encourage people that starting is really all you have to do. There's no expectation in my mind and it will continue to grow from there.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. And I feel like with social media, like Mhmm. When you see influencers like posting like makeup, clothes, and like obviously like I like a lot of influencers, like a lot of girls my age like love influencers in social media. But I feel like seeing the biggest new thing literally every day when you're scrolling on TikTok is so, like it's like, oh, I have to have it. But I feel like, yeah, you're right with, like, changing your mindset one step at a time.
Madison Nero:I absolutely agree. And that is what I try to do through Metamorphosis with Madison. I want to inspire that next generation of eco conscious leaders to not have to feel the need to follow the trends, to be able to gain this natural love and instinctual love for the environment that my grandma taught me so that, you know, it's easier for them to go to the thrift store or they know to turn over their makeup and check for the bunny logo to see if it's cruelty free. Yeah. So that's what I've just been trying to do through Metamorphosis with Madison and as the next Miss Earth USA.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. So tell me a little bit more about Metamorphosis with Madison. Like, have you do you, like, go to schools? Do you hold, like, workshops, talk to youth? Yeah.
Madison Nero:So I really am trying to ultimately make sustainability feel fun and accessible for the next generation. So I actually just had the opportunity to go back to my middle school Oh my gosh. Yeah. To present my think global act local for miss Earth USA, and we talked about modern ways that we could be sustainable. So, again, meeting the kids where they're at, what I we even got to open little blind boxes.
Madison Nero:Instead of opening a LubuBu, we opened Trader Joe's reusable bag blind box. Oh, So I was like, okay. That's a little way to show that not everything has to be bad for the environment. And there are ways that we can make this fun for the next generation and get them involved in helping the climate without it feeling so scary or overwhelming. I also love that you mentioned social media and all the influencers that you follow because that is so hard when we are seeing everyone else around us participating in overconsumption.
Madison Nero:We want to do the same. But through Metamorphosis with Madison, I'm using that social media platform as somewhere where students can come for sustainability influencing, for sustainability advice and show somebody who is living eco consciously and hope that they follow suit.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. And I feel like there are so many influencers out there. Like, I feel like the majority of them like have large platforms and like have a lot of good things to say but like Yeah. It's just like think of the possibilities when like if there's an influencer with such a big platform, like talking about something like sustainability or climate change or something like that, like how many people they could reach. You know?
Madison Nero:Absolutely. I think it's really important to know who our audience is. I know if younger people are gonna be looking at me, I want to inspire them to do the right thing, to care for this earth and to lead with their with their hearts.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. And I know like as since you hold different like national titles, I'm sure you have a platform of you of your own. How do you use that to inspire the next generation, inspire others, inspire peers? How do you do that with the platforms that you hold?
Madison Nero:I have tried to be authentically myself in everything that I do. So whether that's sharing that I'm, you know, wearing Disney pajamas when I wake up in my in my day, in my life, or it's just just showing that I'm crying after I lose a pageant, you know, that it's those things that maybe a typical pageant girl or influencer might not show, but that is is real, you know. Every single day I'm waking up going to class in a sweatshirt and sweatpants and my life isn't very glamorous every single day. But the point of pageantry isn't all glamour. It's about that impact.
Madison Nero:It's about the influence that you have on other people. And I want to use that platform to be a positive influence on others. I've had a hard time stepping into this confidence my whole life. So just showing people that, hey, this is me. I might be a little weird.
Madison Nero:You maybe don't like me, but I know that I'm confident in myself. I know I'm making an impact. And if you do the if you lead with love, you can do the same.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. I feel like authenticity is so important, especially like in our society today. Like, people can tell when you're being authentic and people like hearing from authentic people. And I mean, I I just hear so many, like, women in their early twenties around my age talking about that and how important it is to them and how they seek out people like that. So I feel like a lot of people really appreciate that.
Madison Nero:Yeah.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. And then one of my last things for you, I know you've like posted on your social media, but tell me a little bit about your Times Square billboard that you have for one of your initiatives.
Madison Nero:So through the Lady Coach shop, I was able to see myself on a Times Square billboard. Wow. As someone who's from New York, this was an opportunity I never thought I would have. So when the story of you palette was released, they used that as some of the promotional material, and it was so surreal to see myself up there with my sister queens. I have always kind of just felt like I was put on this earth for something more.
Madison Nero:I think some of we all have that feeling internally, but, you know, it's those moments like that where you really feel like, wow. I I guess I am doing more. I'm doing more for my life. I'm doing bigger things than I ever imagined. So that opportunity was really surreal.
Madison Nero:I'm very very grateful for Lady Code.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. Was it like crazy just like look like being in Times Square looking up and then just, like, seeing yourself in something that you created?
Madison Nero:It was really crazy because I was also there with my parents. And pageantry has been something that has brought my family back together, thankfully. I think often people get a negative notion around pageantry and, oh, the girls are this and that. But seeing how empowered I've become in pageantry, seeing how eloquent and how confident and how empowered I've become since doing pageantry. I think my parents have been really impressed with my growth, and they have made an effort to grow the same way too and support me along this journey.
Madison Nero:So going into the city with them and being like, look what I did. Like, mom like, mom and dad, look at that. I think that was really cool to see that I did it on my own, this pageant journey, but now I had my parents to back me up with that too.
Kennedy DeMars:Yeah. Definitely. So before we close out here, is there anything else that you would like our listeners to know about you or any of your initiatives?
Madison Nero:Yeah. So I would just love to share a little bit more about my grandma. She is who inspired me to found Metamorphosis with Madison. After she passed away from stage four stomach cancer, I really wanted to carry her legacy on. Mhmm.
Madison Nero:So now I have had the privilege to work with the mayor of Yonkers, New York to have November 6 be honored as Bernice Sanzo Day for my grandma, celebrating her legacy of leadership, community, and leading with love. So I just encourage everyone to live that way every day. Live like my grandma, lead with love, and take care of the things you love. And I hope the earth is one of them.
Kennedy DeMars:That's incredible. Well, thank you so much, Madison, for coming on today. I absolutely loved hearing you hearing from you. I'm sure our viewers will as well. And yeah, thank you so much.
Madison Nero:Yeah. Thanks so much for having me.