When Madison Zhao stepped onto the red carpet at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, she didn’t just wear a dress—she wore a story. Wrapped in a custom Lena Erziak gown shimmering with hand-sewn crystals and fierce structure, Zhao was radiant. But it wasn’t just the fashion that drew eyes—it was her presence. Confident, grounded, and full of purpose.

“I used to dream about moments like this,” she says quietly. “But they always felt a world away.”

That world is now hers—but not without grit. Born in a small city in China, Madison left home at just 16 to move to the U.S. alone. She didn’t speak perfect English. She didn’t have money or connections. What she had was a vision—and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit.

She launched her first business at 18. By 19, she’d scaled it to over $1 million in annual revenue. Now, she’s the founder and CEO of three powerful ventures—Liuxuewd, EDUX TECH, and Madison Profit Academy—each designed to give others the tools, knowledge, and confidence she had to fight to find on her own.

But Madison doesn’t just want to be known for her numbers. She wants to be seen for who she is—a woman who leads with heart and never hides her love for fashion.

“Style is how I’ve always expressed myself,” she says. “Even when no one was listening to me yet, fashion gave me a voice.”

At Cannes, that voice echoed through every inch of her Erziak gown. Strong lines. Bold detail. Feminine power. It was more than couture—it was Madison’s journey, stitched in silk and crystal.

She’s not the kind of CEO who tries to blend in. She’s the kind who walks into boardrooms in Balenciaga and builds tech companies in heels. For her, style and substance go hand in hand.

“Women are so often told to tone themselves down—to be less. I never wanted to shrink to succeed,” she says. “I want to be fully myself, in every room.”

Her companies reflect that spirit. Liuxuewd helps Chinese students access global education without being taken advantage of. EDUX TECH uses AI to make learning more personalized and accessible. And through Madison Profit Academy, she’s helping thousands of women around the world learn how to build real businesses and unapologetically chase their dreams.

But behind the glamorous photos and entrepreneurial wins is someone deeply grounded. Madison is open about the hard moments—feeling out of place, the pressure of leading at a young age, the fear of failing publicly. “It hasn’t been easy,” she admits. “There were times I was completely alone. But I kept going because I believed in something bigger than me.”

Now with over one million followers online, she shares not just strategy, but soul. She talks about self-worth, confidence, identity—all the things that don’t show up on spreadsheets, but shape everything.

Beyond business, Madison is fiercely committed to animal rescue. Her dream is to use her platform to fund shelters, create protections, and advocate for the voiceless.

And one day, she wants to build an online university—the kind she wishes had existed for her. One that teaches wealth-building, personal branding, and confidence, without barriers.

For now, Cannes was a reminder of how far she’s come.

“Sometimes I still can’t believe it,” she says. “I used to look at women like this on red carpets and wonder if there was space for someone like me. Now I’m here—and I want to hold the door open for others.”

In Lena Erziak couture, under the bright lights of Cannes, Madison Zhao wasn’t just part of the moment. She was the moment. Not because she’s perfect, but because she’s real. Fierce. Feminine. Unstoppable.

And the message she left behind? You can build your dreams, wear the dress, and take up space. All of it. All at once.

Credits:

Talent: Madison Zhao 

Photographer: Marie Goujon photographie 

Make up: Mahassen 

Assistant: Blondine beauty 

Designer: Elena erziak

Management & PR: MaisonPR