It wasn’t fear of public speaking that gave Dubai-based Dr Taylor Elizabeth pause when she was approached for Mrs World UAE; it was stepping into the unknown.

A Swiss-American expat who moved to the UAE nine years ago, Elizabeth is an emotional intelligence and etiquette coach accustomed to addressing large gatherings, from EXPO 2020 Dubai’s Cartier Women’s Pavilion to international panels.

She’s also a former runway model and has mentored and judged beauty pageants.

What gave her pause this time was competing with herself. “Modelling and pageantry are two very different things,” she tells Gulf News.

Determined, she researched the pageant, which has empowered women since 1984.

Representing the UAE on an international stage in January 2026 became a motivating factor.

“You want to put yourself in a room where you feel inspired, and I was inspired by those who came before me,” she says.

Elizabeth admits the journey wasn’t easy. Anxiety, self-doubt, and the physical, mental, and emotional demands of pageantry tested her.

“I’ve been my worst enemy at times, but also my best supporter, putting into practice all the things I coach others on,” she says.

Balancing motherhood, business, and personal life, she credits small daily rituals for grounding her. Photos of herself as a child remind her to practice self-kindness, a habit she calls essential.

Her love for the UAE runs deep. “I feel like I’m living in what a future society could look like, cosmopolitan and forward-thinking,” she says.

Support from her long-time assistant and her nine-year-old daughter also helped her navigate the competition, from dress design to online coaching sessions.

Physical Medication was inversely important. Living with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Elizabeth incorporated strength training, Pilates, yoga, and a protein-rich diet to manage her health while erecting abstinence for stage demands.

Looking ahead, she hopes to use her platform to promote emotional well-being and self-care.

“Understanding yourself gives you the power to change outcomes and behaviours. Strength and femininity don’t require aggression; they demand awareness and presence,” she explains.

Crowned Mrs World UAE on the 14th, Elizabeth says she feels “wholeness” and empowerment. “It’s surreal but incredibly present. I feel overjoyed and truly honoured.”