For a local teen who鈥檇 never entered a pageant before, the newly-appointed Miss Teen 91原创-World has done well for herself.

Crowned at a regional competition earlier in March, Eren McQuistin has been chosen as one of the 18 finalists from B.C. to compete in the Miss Teen Canada-World competition in Toronto in July.

If she wins, she will move on to the Miss Teen World pageant. 

鈥淚t was a really tough competition,鈥� the 18-year-old said. 鈥淏ut they really tried to focus on not being nervous of the other girls. If you are worrying about everyone else you are not going to ... enjoy the experience.鈥�

McQuistin found the application by chance from an ad on Facebook, and what started out as a whim, has turned into a real passion for her.

鈥淚t was a little ad on the side, and I just clicked it randomly and was like 鈥榦h.鈥� I didn鈥檛 really think much of it when I first applied. I was like 鈥極K, I鈥檒l try this, it might be fun.鈥� I found out I got accepted and it just all started happening. It was great,鈥� she said. 

鈥淚 want to be a good role model for teens. I don鈥檛 just want to be like 鈥榳hatever鈥� with this title. I want to make the most of it,鈥� she said.

Working as a lifeguard at Al Anderson Memorial Pool, McQuistin entered the pageant on a platform of supporting the 鈥淪wim to Survive鈥� program 鈥� a course that teaches basic swimming skills to kids who do not know how to swim. She believes that having the ability to swim at a minimum level is a necessary skill.

McQuistin also wants to use her title to promote a healthy body image for teens.

鈥淚 would love to go talk to ... any high school students that are having problems about body image,鈥� she said. 

 McQuistin says the contest is 鈥渁 great opportunity鈥� to learn new skills and meet new people.  

鈥淲in or lose, if you get accepted into the pageant you鈥檙e already a winner and it鈥檚 a really good experience. It makes you feel so much better about yourself,鈥� she said. 

The next step is to find sponsors for the Miss Teen Canada-World pageant in July.

鈥淚t鈥檚 quite expensive to travel to Toronto, almost $2,500, so I need to find sponsors. It鈥檚 a little too much to ask my mom to pay for,鈥� she said.

For more information on how you can support Eren McQuistin, visit her Facebook page, 鈥淧lease support Eren McQuistin to win Miss Teen Canada - World.鈥�