COMING home after winning the crown for this year's Miss Teen Philippines, 15-year-old Filipino-Brazilian Nikki Advincula de Moura received a warm welcome from her family, friends, fans and supporters during the meet and greet activity at the event center of SM CDO Downtown Premier last Saturday, June 1.
A model and first timer in beauty pageant, Nikki bested 30 other candidates from different parts of the Philippines during the coronation night at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City and became the latest ambassadress for teenagers in promoting global readiness through education.
"I was very surprised cause they're all very smart and very clever and very beautiful. So it’s really like an honor for me to win Miss Teen Philippines," Nikki said during an interview with SunStar Cagayan de Oro after the meet and greet activity last Saturday.
As the ambassadress for Miss Teen Philippines, Nikki was able to promote education and her own advocacies on environment preservation and supporting people, particularly teenagers, suffering from depression.
"I have seen videos and I've met a lot of people who are suffering from depression and I really find it alarming and I really want to help those people who suffer depression and that's why in college, I will take Psychology," Nikki said.
"I can use my voice to encourage my fellow peers to be active in my cause, in my advocacies and I will inspire my fellow teenagers and hopefully they can be aware and spread the world also," she added.
Nikki also mentioned her plan to create a support group for people suffering from depression soon.
During her journey to becoming the Miss Teen Philippines 2019, Nikki shared that she was able to learn how to be humble, to value education and be a role model.
These became a part of her strength as she moves to further the progress of her cause and be the voice of the youth.
"I will further continue my advocacies and use my voice to inspire these people, to spread the word and hopefully they can listen to me and really make something out of it," Nikki said.
Still a high school student, Nikki said she will be focusing more on her education. However, she will also make time for her Miss Teen Philippines activities and in her modelling career.
"My mother actually helps me a lot in balancing my time between school and my career. Of course, I always put school on the top," Nikki said.
Nikki is studying in Georgia Academy in Gran Europa, Cagayan de Oro City.
Jeannifer Limbo Advincula, Nikki's mother, for her part, said she was overwhelmed yet happy for her daughter, who is the second youngest in the family.
"It was very overwhelming, lipay kaayo mi (we are happy). We did not really expect because this is Nikki's first time joining a pageant but I know she's a very smart girl. So she did it," Jeannifer said.
"My message for her: Always put your feet down, be humble and be kind and respect," she added.
Nikki, on the other hand, imparted an advice to aspiring beauty queens to focus more on education as it will be the means to teach people to be more concerned about the environment and a way to save lives.
And for her fans and supports, Nikki said: "Honestly I don't have the words. There's too many people to thank for but thank you so much to everyone for really having faith in me and encouraging me. I'm very blessed and very thankful for you guys."