Savannah Elias-Beaulieu didnSA国际影视传媒檛 hear her name being called at first.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey speak Spanish,SA国际影视传媒� recalls Elias-Beaulieu, who was named Miss Teen Maja of the World 2017 at a beauty pageant in the Dominican Republic in late November.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey pronounce my name different, so when they called me up I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know they called my name. They called my name a few more times and I was like, oh, it sounds like Savannah.SA国际影视传媒�

The year has been a whirlwind for the 15-year-old and her mother, Eleanor Elias. Elias-Beaulieu was also crowned fourth princess in the Miss Teen Canada Globe pageant earlier this summer.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel like I was a lot more prepared for this one than the first one, because I knew what to do, how to walk and what to expect,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

It was her first time out of the country and she loved it, especially the 42C heat.

The pageant tests competitors in a number of events, including modelling and dancing. Elias-Beaulieu said some people might think the pageants are just about outer beauty but they have a heavy focus on inner beauty, too.

For Elias-Beaulieu, competing in a pageant was a dream come true.

SA国际影视传媒淚t definitely has given me a lot more opportunities,SA国际影视传媒� she said, now that the rush has settled down. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e got a lot of opportunities to do modelling and be in fashion shows.SA国际影视传媒�

SheSA国际影视传媒檚 also been asked to judge a pageant next summer.

Elias was a little bit hesitant at first about her daughterSA国际影视传媒檚 interest in pageantry, especially because the costs of entry and fundraising for travel were so high.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wasted so many years not going before,SA国际影视传媒� she said, reflecting on what she thought of it now. SA国际影视传媒淎t first it was really scary, just the unknown, but after you get down there in the hot weather, you sit at home (and say) this is something I never expected to do.SA国际影视传媒�

Everything about the experience, including the long plane rides, was a new experience for the pair.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I look back on it, I appreciate it so much more and ISA国际影视传媒檓 looking forward to our next trip,SA国际影视传媒� said Elias.

For now, Elias-Beaulieu is continuing to work at Northmart and as a FOXY peer facilitator. Next year, she will be headed south again to hand over her crown to the next winner, and to participate in modelling and photoshoot opportunities.

She is also working to recruit five girls for the 2018 pageant in Toronto. She says she has one from Inuvik already.

Along the way, she has been raising awareness for Moyamoya disease, a rare blood vessel vascular disorder that took the life of her father, Frederick Beaulieu, when she was 10.