More than five years and two children later, Tara Teng still thanks the Miss BC program for instilling in her a lot of the confidence she has now as a mom, blogger and activist.

Teng, originally from Powell River, won Miss BC in 2010.

But she didn’t stop there, winning Miss Canada in 2011 and Miss World Canada in 2012.

Representing Canada among 118 competitors on the international stage, she used her new-found courage to shed light on human trafficking — a cause that’s close to her heart.

“Miss BC gave me the platform to spread awareness on a global scale,” Teng said, “and opened doors to some of the highest offices of influences that might have otherwise been closed to me as a young woman.”

Now a life and style blogger, Teng is the B.C. director for the Joy Smith Foundation and continues to deliver her message in 40,000-seat stadiums and on TEDx stages.

“And it was Miss BC that was a catalyst for all that.”

In addition to her work at the foundation and writing for the “socially conscious woman,” Teng said she is still part of Miss BC, but now behind the scenes.

Do you ever just wake up in anticipation for all the possibility of a day? I'm excited to be speaking about turning advocacy into action at the Business and Professional Women's Dinner tonight in Langley!

A post shared by Tara Teng • Miss Canada 2012 (@misstarateng) on Oct 21, 2015 at 9:10am PDT

She runs leadership workshops for the participants and helped create a new Junior Miss BC category.

“We wanted there to be something equally empowering and inspiring for preteen girls,” she said.

“Our workshops include topics on real beauty, self-esteem, public speaking, leadership, as well as issues such as bullying and online safety.”

Since her days on stage, Teng said she’s seen beauty pageants change their approach to what beauty looks like, and believes that Miss BC has led the way.

Some of her fellow competitors have gone on to becoming neurosurgeons, politicians and Olympians.

“These are women with a voice, who champion important causes and who are blazing trails and breaking glass ceilings in their communities, education and their workplaces.”

This year’s Miss BC pageant, of which Black Press is a sponsor, is set for July 1 to 3 in Fort Langley.

You can vote for your Miss Teen BC pick in the People’s Choice Awards. Votes can be casted online, once per hour, until the contest closes on Friday, June 23 at midnight.