Catie Cowsill: Crowns Cartwheels & Cortexes

The Multifaceted Maven

Catie Cowsill glides into the room with the poise of a pageant queen, her sequined gown catching the light like scattered stardust. But moments later, she’s curled into a lecture hall chair, laughing about prioritizing “secant formulas over stiff shirts.” This is Catie in full spectrum: a titleholder, gymnast, cheerleader, psychiatry prodigy, and Gen Z mental health advocate who refuses to be boxed into a single identity. “Every part of me—pageants, sports, psychiatry—is a thread in the same tapestry,” she says. “They all scream: You can be anything, but always be yourself.”  

Championing Mental Health: The “We Matter” Revolution  

At 16, Catie founded We Matter, a peer-led support group where teens unpack struggles without fear of judgment. “Adults mean well, but sometimes you just need someone your age to say, ‘I get it,’” she explains. Yet she’s adamant about balancing peer support with intergenerational wisdom: “As teenagers, it’s very important to listen to the adults in our lives. They were our age once, and even if times are different, they have the life experience.” She credits her mother as a pivotal influence: “I’m blessed with a wonderful, supportive mom who always keeps me on track. She reminds me to be kind and calm at all times—even when I’m juggling a million things.”  

The initiative, born from her own 8th-grade battle with overwhelm, has become a lifeline. She recalls a friend’s younger sister who attended a meeting, anxious and withdrawn, only to leave grinning: “She told me, ‘This feels like hope.’ That’s why I do this.”  

Lessons from the Mat and Stage  

Discipline isn’t just a buzzword for Catie—it’s etched into her DNA. A gymnast and cheerleader since childhood, she credits sports with teaching her “how to fall, then rise stronger.” Her path wasn’t without challenges—the summer between eighth and ninth grade proved particularly grueling. It was then that varsity cheerleader and gymnastics coach Mrs. Mills entered her life. “She saw my struggles not as weaknesses, but as muscles waiting to be strengthened,” Catie says. “Mrs. Mills taught me that real strength is asking for a spotter when you need one.”  Pageants, meanwhile, sharpened her voice: “They’re not about perfection. They’re about owning your story in stilettos.”  

But Catie’s toolkit for resilience extends beyond the gym. She finds unexpected solace in music: “Singing helps me relax, especially when I have a very busy schedule.” Her involvement in the church choir holds particular significance. “Harmonizing with others—it’s like a metaphor for community. You learn to hold your note while supporting others’ voices,” she reflects. “That’s shaped how I approach mental health advocacy too.”  

Yet, she’s no disciple of “hustle culture.” “Boundaries aren’t weaknesses,” she insists. “I journal daily, nap shamelessly, and remind myself: You’re human. Burnout isn’t a trophy.”  

Navigating Perfection and Authenticity

In a world of airbrushed Instagram feeds and podium pressures, Catie’s mantra is radical honesty. “Pageant judges want confidence, not robots. Same with mental health advocacy—you can’t heal what you don’t acknowledge.” She smirks, adjusting her gold-pageant sash. “I’ve learned to say, ‘I’m Catie: glittery, gritty, and occasionally a mess.’ That’s how you connect.”  

Her style mirrors this duality: think Swarovski-embellished gowns one day, oversized sweatshirts and calculus textbooks the next. “Comfort is confidence,” she shrugs. “Whether I’m flipping on a beam or diagnosing hypothetical cases in class, I need to feel like me.”  

A Vision for the Future  

Catie’s North Star? Dr. Patricia Celan, the psychiatrist-Mrs. Canada titleholder who merges pageantry with advocacy. “She’s proof you don’t have to choose—you can heal minds and wear a crown.”  

As for her legacy? Catie’s eyes soften. “If I’ve taught one teen to say, ‘I need help,’ without shame, I’ve won. Our generation’s trauma isn’t trendy—it’s real. But so is our resilience.”  

Final Frame  

As the interview wraps, Catie slips back into her sparkly heels, ready for a charity gala. “Next stop: calculus,” she groans, laughing. It’s this dance between glamour and grit, ambition and ease, that makes her a modern icon. In Catie’s world, mental health isn’t a sidebar—it’s the headline. And she’s just getting started.

Style Notes: Catie’s go-to includes bedazzled pageant sashes, high-waisted leggings for backflips, and chunky sneakers paired with psychiatric journals. “Versatility is key,” she winks. 

Modish Muse Magazine, March 2025