News

Miss City of Colleges’ Teen Zoe Simon Promotes T.A.L.K. Initiative

In a world where teen mental health is often misunderstood or overlooked, one young Miss Arkansas Teen contestant is using her voice to make a life-saving difference. Through her platform, T.A.L.K — Tell, Ask, Listen, Keep Safe, Zoe Simon, Miss City of Colleges’ Teen, is working to break the stigma surrounding suicide and ensure that no teen feels alone in their struggles.

Her mission is deeply personal. From sixth through eighth grade, Simon faced a dark period marked by isolation, self-doubt and self-harm. After losing a close friendship and navigating the loneliness brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, she began to believe she didn’t deserve connection or support. Even with her mother serving as a school counselor, she found herself hiding her pain, which only deepened her struggle.

Everything changed when she reached a turning point and called 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

That anonymous conversation gave her clarity, guidance and courage to seek further help. She entered a treatment program, began therapy and started the long journey toward healing, one she emphasizes is not immediate, but possible.

Now, Simon is turning her experience into purpose. By sharing her story openly, she connects with other teens facing similar battles. The T.A.L.K. approach, which she learned through a training her freshman year, empowers young people to act when they see a friend in crisis: tell someone you’re concerned, ask direct questions, listen without judgment and keep them safe by connecting them with trusted support.

In addition, she has designed and distributed stickers promoting the 988 hotline, placing them in school bathrooms and public spaces across Arkansas, locations where teens are most likely to see them in moments of need. Her goal is to reach every secondary school in the state, ensuring that awareness meets accessibility.

Simon also hopes to educate parents and educators on the importance of recognizing behavioral changes, fostering open communication, and remaining non-judgmental. “Mental health struggles are real,” she emphasizes, “and teens feel them just as deeply as adults.”

Through courage, honesty and advocacy, she is not only sharing her story but also saving lives. Her message is clear: it may take time, and the journey may feel like a roller
coaster, but it does get better, and no one has to go through it alone.