Castlegar resident Mariah Morris was named Saturday as one of three B.C. Ambassadors at a pageant held in Merritt.
The pageant featured 12 candidates from throughout the province competing for the three spots.
"It was amazing," said Morris, who was Miss Castlegar in 2010. "I came with what I prepared for. All the candidates did great and I was fortunate enough to place. It was such a win for Castlegar. It was more than just myself."
On her way to the coronation, Morris picked up several accolades. She won the talent award, the community presentation award, the public speaking award, and the B.C. knowledge award.
It was a long week for Morris as her and her team arrived in Merritt early to prepare.
"We were there on Monday," she said. "It was really great to meet all the girls and build our friendship up before the pageant."
After a few days of preparation and getting to know everyone, the candidates were ready for the competition.
"At the pageant we did all the things we prepared for," she said. "On Friday afternoon we performed our personal choice speeches and we did our community presentation. We showed off our community tables to the public. Friday night we came back and there were community speeches and talent. Saturday was our personal interview and then the evening gown walk, impromptu question, and coronation."
Morris is the first Castlegar candidate to appear in the BC Ambassador program. Trail's Carley Henninger was also selected as a BC Ambassador, as was Kamloops' Acacia Schmietenknop.
"It was exciting because Carley was the first girl ever to run from Trail as well," said Morris. "So it was so nice for us to come and represent the Kootenays for the first time and for both of us to place was phenomenal."
Morris and the other BC Ambassadors will travel to Oliver this weekend for their ambassador pageant ceremony.
"We'll be going to different communities throughout the province and promoting the program's mandate of motivation, self-esteem, and education," she said.
In September Morris will attend UBC - Okanagan in Kelowna where she will take the pre-Pharmacy program.
Morris received $8,500 in scholarships which means her first year of schooling is essentially paid for.
Morris would like to thank all her sponsors including the Castlegar Queen Committee for supporting her and the City of Castlegar for sponsoring her.