María Paulina García will compete in the Miss Earth® USA beauty pageant in January 2023
West Chicago resident Maria Paulina Garcia will be participating in the upcoming Miss Earth® USA beauty pageant. The pageant will take place in Orlando, Florida, from January 1 to 8, 2023.
Each of the at least 51 delegates to the national title pageant is judged based on multiple components. Competition components include delegate interviews, promotional video content, swimsuit and evening wear competitions, runway competitions, results of their special projects, and overall delegate commitment to the environment.
The winners of the national pageant have the opportunity to compete for the international title, which is held in Vietnam with the participation of 90 different countries.
Promoting environmental sustainability in West Chicago as Miss Earth Illinois
Before the national and international contests, the state contests serve as preliminary tests for the delegates. Garcia currently holds the title of Miss Illinois Earth, and has held the title since August 2022. She will remain the title holder until April 2023.
As Garcia awaits her chance to compete for the national title, she has had multiple responsibilities as the reigning Miss Illinois Earth. In addition to helping promote the mission and goals of the Miss Earth® USA pageant, her other responsibilities include helping to educate the West Chicago community about the importance of environmental advocacy.
As part of this local promotion of environmental best practices, Garcia and all other state delegates are tasked with creating and executing a “Think Global, Act Local Project.” As part of the project, each delegate must engage and invite the local public within their communities to participate in activities that promote environmental sustainability.
In addressing how he hopes to encourage better environmental practices in West Chicago and meet the special project requirements, Garcia provided the following statement.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to take care of our planet. From the CEO of an oil corporation, to the state senator, to the working class citizen, to the student. We are all contributing to the healing or demise of the Earth.
I hope to encourage my fellow West Chicago residents to stay informed about current environmental issues and how they can contribute to solutions through volunteering with conservation organizations like Fermilab Natural Areas and Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. There is little participation from our community in the volunteer events of these organizations, and I continue to encourage my neighbors to join the efforts to preserve our local grasslands and forest reserves through volunteering.”
About Maria Paulina Garcia
Garcia’s family immigrated to West Chicago from Mexico when she was 3 years old and has now been a resident of the city for 23 years. She is currently a member of the City of West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission and is also a member of the DuPage Mexican Cultural Center. In addition to her continued interest in competing in beauty pageants, Garcia aspires to develop a career in cybersecurity in Japan.
When asked what her other goals were, Garcia said, “Ultimately, my goal is to inspire Latina women to follow their dreams. As a first generation immigrant, I had to pave the path to success with my own hands. I’m trying to be the role model I didn’t have growing up for my niece and nephews, and I’ll gladly lend anyone the tools they need to carve their own path. There is plenty of room for everyone to shine and prosper.”
Gain support from the community before the competition
Garcia has earned the support of West Chicago as he prepares for the upcoming national pageant. City of West Chicago Mayor Ruben Pineda provided the following statement regarding Ms. Garcia’s great accomplishment and the upcoming competition.
“As the mayor of West Chicago and a resident of this community, I am very proud of María Paulina and her accomplishments. Our community is made up of people of great character, and Ms. Garcia is another excellent example. Her dedication to her craft, her community and her environment is commendable and she is of great benefit to all of us as residents of West Chicago. The City of West Chicago will be cheering her on this January and will continue to wish her much success in all her future endeavors.”
About Miss Earth
Since 2001, the Miss Earth® organization has created a platform for women and girls to experience the glamor of the pageant industry while making an impact on the world’s most pressing environmental issues.
The Miss Earth® USA organization offers multiple age divisions to help influential young women and girls gain experience and recognition for their achievements.
In partnership with our official 501(c)3 non-profit organization B4ACUSA, the Miss Earth® USA organization values more than beauty. We are Beauties for a Cause®.
Source: news.google.com