Ep 7. The Great Zoe Valentine

Zoe Valentine is an American teen drama web television series that premiered in 2019. The show primarily follows its titular character Zoe Valentine, a high school student who is also a famous blogger and often navigates various social and personal issues in her life.

In season 1 episode 7 titled "The Great Zoe Valentine," Zoe finds herself facing an exciting opportunity to grow her brand as a blogger and public figure. As an influencer, Zoe is already quite popular and has a significant number of followers on her social media accounts. However, she is now presented with the opportunity to compete in a local beauty pageant, "The Great Great Lakes Teen Beauty Pageant."

Initially, Zoe is not very enthusiastic about the idea. She is a self-proclaimed feminist who sees beauty pageants as outdated and sexist. However, the prize for winning the contest is a $10,000 cash prize that Zoe could use to fund her future endeavors or donate to charities she supports. Ultimately, the money offered by the pageant is too tempting to resist, and Zoe decides to give it a shot.

As Zoe prepares for the pageant, she faces various challenges and roadblocks. She is not familiar with the customs and traditions that come with beauty pageants, which leads to some confusion and hilarity. Her best friend, and confidant, Max helps her out. Max even teaches Zoe the proper way to walk in high heels, which poses its own challenge for someone so accustomed to sneakers and comfy shoes.

Zoe is eventually able to find her footing and settles into the rhythm of the pageant. She develops a newfound appreciation for the girls participating in the event, realizing how hard it is to manage everything that goes into it. Zoe gets to learn a lot of things from the pageant and the girls participating she begins to challenge her own assumptions about beauty pageants and the people who participate in them.

However, the pageant comes with its fair share of drama, and Zoe must face some unexpected obstacles along the way. There's a brilliantly written scene where Zoe's competitors create some rivalry, and she nearly loses her winning spirit. But Zoe ultimately finds the strength and courage to face these challenges head-on.

The episode is a fantastic showcase of Zoe's character and her growing maturity and understanding of the world around her. The show treats her with depth and respect, unlike most teenage-oriented dramas, and offers an inspiring and empowering message for its viewers.

In conclusion, "The Great Zoe Valentine" is an excellent episode in the Zoe Valentine series. It connects beautifully with the viewers as it explores themes of beauty, identity, and self-confidence. It shows a teenage girl's journey of self-discovery that is both relatable and inspiring for people of all ages.