Richmond's Carly Fobert, 17, is the newly crowned Miss Teen Richmond and the first runner up in the Miss Teen B.C. 2012.
Not bad for someone who has never taken part in a beauty pageant before.
The Grade 12 student at McRoberts secondary was crowned on the weekend and will head to Toronto in July for the nationals, hoping to be the next Miss Teen Canada World 2012.
Fobert was among 400 applicants in the Miss Teen B.C. competition held in Richmond on Sunday, March 4 at the Airport Plaza Hotel and Convention Centre.
She will compete for Miss Teen Canada World with 60 other young women aged 1319 from across the country.
"I wanted to take part in a beauty pageant because, not only is it about poise and grace, it also gives the power to use the title to change my community in a positive way," said Fobert.
All the Miss Teen World Canada finalists are tasked with raising money for Free the Children - a minimum of $400, according to Fobert, in advance of the crowning gala.
It's a charity Fobert, an active volunteer, cares deeply about.
"I am passionate about volunteering and more so to help out the Canadian Cancer Society and Free the Children," said Fobert. "It is something that I've always wanted to do and now I have the chance to do so."
If she were to win the title, Fobert would take part in a number of high profile public appearances across the country, be interviewed by media, attend gala fundraising events and use her influence to inspire others to give generously to charitable organizations. The national title winner represents Canada for one year until crowning her successor.
Besides raising money for Free the Children, each contestant must also raise enough to cover her stay in Toronto, which includes eight nights accommodation, meals, travel to and from events, admissions to parks and other attractions, photo shoots and more. Fobert is looking for sponsorship to help defray costs.
For more information, go on Fobert's Facebook page http: //www.facebook.com/ MissTeenRichmondWorld2012, follow her on twitter @misstrichmond12 or visit http: // www.missteencanadaworld.com.