In September 2004 Maria was offered the position of Editor-in-Chief at Elite Woman.

With Maria's appointment the volume of pages as well as ads in Elite Women almost doubled.

Saule Isaeva, the Beauty Editor at Elite Woman, was designated as the Editor-in-Chief.

She represented New Zealand in the Elite Women's Duathlon World Championships in 2005.

The single level pro females are called Elite Women.

She was the 2008 Australian Open Road champion (in the Elite Women's Road Race event).

Manon Carpenter took second place in her first race in the Elite Women's category in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

The Junior Women division is for 17-18 year-old women, Elite Women for 19 and over regardless of amateur/professional status.

Since the season 2010-11, the Netherlands women's national team participates in the Elite Women's Hockey League.

She has twice been named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics and an "Elite Woman" by Hispanic Business magazine.