In this episode, I sit down with Vietnamese singer and pageant contestant MLee, also known as Quach Tapiau Mai Ly, for a conversation about music, courage, Vietnamese culture, and chasing a dream bigger than yourself. We talk about her journey from growing up in Vietnam and spending time in Canada to building a career as an artist and stepping into the world of pageantry.

MLee shares why Vietnamese coffee, food, family, and community mean so much to her, how tennis has taught her patience, and why she has learned to trust her inner voice even when the people around her are unsure. We also put her confidence to the test with some unexpected pageant scenarios, from the wrong music playing to a broken heel and even a falling crown.

More than anything, this conversation is about having the courage to keep showing up, trusting yourself, and staying calm when life does not go according to plan.

What’s one dream you would still chase even if nobody else believed in it yet?