Thompson's Maria Cecilia (Mitch) Nicolas competed in Miss Earth Canada 2010 in Montreal recently, a pageant that promotes increased environmental awareness and action and, of course, beauty. This competition included best in talent, evening gown, swim suit, and a business presentation on "Beauty for a Cause."
In the business presentation contest, the other 12 delegates educated the audience and judges about various environmental issues and expressed what they believe everyone can and should do. Nicolas explained how she assisted Laban Martial Arts and Fitness Studio in Thompson in holding a kick-a-thon with a large portion of the proceeds going to a fund that was sent to a group of nuns in the Philippines to assist with the construction of a public school. In return, the nuns agreed to grant Nicolas's request to make environmental studies a core subject in this school so there are over 300 children being prepared to take on the environmental issues of today and in the future.
For the talent portion, Nicolas demonstrated her skills in taekwondo by demonstrating a pattern of kicks, strikes and blocks. She then performed a kung fu fan dance and ended her display with board-breaking, including a jumping front snap kick, then a turn back side kick, and finally a spinning 360 roundhouse kick to shatter the boards and amaze the judges and audience.
The pageant was Nicolas's first in Canada. The only other pageant she has competed in was in her college back in the Philippines.
"All I really wanted was to have this experience in my life and to make new friends from across the country and around the world," says Nicolas, who placed in the top three in the evening gown portion, with a unique black long dress with peacock feather detail.
This adventure would not be possible without the generous support of her family and friends, her coach, and all of her sponsors, said Nicolas, whose trip to the pageant was supported by Laban Martial Arts and Fitness Studio, the Family and Community Wellness Centre in Nelson House, Venture Air, McDonald's restaurant in Thompson, City Vision, Leo's Home Decorating, City Jewellers in Winnipeg, Sears Canada in Thompson, Canadian Tire in Thompson and Dr. Armstrong's Family Chiropractics in Portage la Prairie.
"Thank you so very much to all those that supported me," said Nicolas. "You gave me the confidence and drive to do this. Thank you!"
Nicolas is now registered and preparing to compete in the Miss Universe Canada pageant preliminaries in 2011. She asks any Thompson businesses interested in sponsoring her for this next competition to contact her at Laban Martial Arts and Fitness Studio.
