Madison Nero
By Bryan Fumagalli
Whether she is wearing a bikini on a reality TV show or addressing congress, Westchester’s Madison Nero is making waves from Michigan to Washington.
Nero, 21, who holds the title of Miss Earth USA Water, finished as the second runner up in the Miss Earth USA competition, a leading environmental pageant that combines the beauty pageant industry with pressing environmental issues.
The Miss Earth USA 2025 pageant was broadcast this summer through a reality show “Pretty Down To Earth” exclusively broadcast on QBN, the Queen Beauty Network.
“The preliminary competition included a private impact statement, swim wear, evening gown and abbreviated on-stage impact statement,” said Nero, an Armonk native who spent time living in Yonkers with her grandmother. “Those of us who finished in the top 12 spent the next six months engaged in advocacy such as attending New York Fashion Week, doing photo shoots and living our best lives as Miss Earth USA national finalists. In May, we reconvened to film ‘Miss Pretty Down to Earth’ at Sylvan Beach during which we competed in everything from photo and bikini shoots to interviews to runway at the Utica train station.”
After nearly taking the crown this year, Nero isn’t standing still. She plans to compete again next year for Miss Earth USA, stay connected with the public and even dabble in the world of public policy.
“I work with youth through my environmental platform Metamorphosis with Madison, where I bring a modern twist to what it means to be eco conscious,” she said. “That could be showing videos of me thrifting or hosting the series I have through Citizens Climate Lobby called Legislation 101, where I break down climate policy so people can understand what is going on and be civically engaged.”
On track to graduate in December, Nero is majoring in advertising management at Michigan State University and hopes to become a pageant coach and work in social media.
“I love it at MSU, especially in my role as president of Citizens Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan nonprofit grassroots climate change organization that pushes congress to implement climate policy,” Nero said. “In that role, I have lobbied Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and recently spent time on Capitol Hill.”
Follow Madison on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/maddie_nero
