A teen from Chatham says she had the time of her life competing at a pageant overseas.
Elise Moccia, 15, placed 3rd runner-up at the Miss Eco Teen International pageant in Egypt this month, making Canada very proud of her remarkable achievement on such a large global stage.
Moccia also finished in first place for Best Eco Dress among contestants from more than 20 countries.
Moccia told CK News Today that her experience was absolutely incredible and it was an honour to represent Canada.
Moccia said that her handcrafted Eco Dress was created by a designer in Alberta.
"My favourite part was probably the Eco Dress. It was an eco-based pageant. So, you had to have one dress that was sustainably made, and my dress was called the Pink Phenomenon. A designer, Francesca, made it for me in Alberta. It was all garbage bags and plastic straws," said Moccia.
She said that she worked very hard to put her best foot forward at the pageant and has some friendly advice for her successor.
"I just say to enjoy every second of it. The days went by so fast, and it was really easy to get caught up in the competition side of things. Just don't forget to take it all in," noted Moccia.
Moccia also said she's glad to have met so many amazing girls from around the world, who are now lifelong friends.
Pageant organizers and supporters back home have praised Moccia for her outstanding work representing Canada, her conduct, and her positive spirit throughout the competition.
“Elise embodied everything Miss Eco Teen Canada stands for, intelligence, kindness, and determination,” said a national pageant representative. “Her success on the world stage is an incredible accomplishment for her and for our country.”
Moccia is an advocate for children with disabilities and plans to use her platform to raise awareness and inspire other youth to make a difference in their communities.
Miss ECO Teen International is a prestigious international event, bringing together youth from all over the world.
The main objective of the contest is to choose the best "Teen Queen" to be the voice of every teenager facing insecurities and issues, and to promote the idea of taking care of our planet from a young age.
