Known for it’s environmental splendor, Guam boasts some of the greatest natural wonders in the Pacific. But Guam is also home to stunning people, and Gloria Nelson, the reigning Miss Earth Guam, is a natural beauty in her own right. Now, she’s now preparing to compete in the international Miss Earth Pageant later this month. 
Surprise meeting
Nelson had not initially intended to participate in the pageant, but chose to compete after learning more about the cause it represents.
“My sister actually took me to a meeting, but I didn’t know what I was walking into,” said Nelson as we walked through the forest to Tarzan Falls. “When I found out it was with the Guam pageant director and for me to run, I ended up just sticking to it for the cause they represent, which is environmental advocacy, helping to save our environment, and getting involved with the community.”
“Because many people admire and aspire to be beauty queens,” says the Miss Earth Pageant website, “… [they are] a good and effective advocate of worthy causes … [and] an effective tool to promote environmental awareness.”
After being crowned, Nelson has kept busy tackling the island’s environmental issues and using her newfound pedestal to have a hand in numerous local projects aimed at preserving natural habitats. She’s also represented Guam at several off-island tourism expos and events, courtesy of the Guam Visitors Bureau.
An active reign
“It was a really big change after being crowned,” she said. “There were so many things I had to do, so many ideas I wanted to put into place. I knew I didn’t want to be idle with my reign. I wanted to do something, and so I pushed myself to do more.”
While Nelson became involved in several projects, she told the Sunday Post that the most personally meaningful work she’d done so far has been volunteering with the Department of Agriculture’s Haggan Watch program. According to its Facebook page, Haggan Watch’s mission is to monitor, protect, and minimize impacts to sea turtles and to enhance successful nesting events.”
Although much of her time is spent attending public events and advocating for the environment, Nelson is also an avid hiker.
“… with all of the stuff I’m going through, nature is a getaway for me,” she said. “It’s just really nice to be able to get away from things, sit down at a waterfall or cliffside by the beach, and just relax and enjoy that peace of mind.” 
Above all, Nelson has spent her reign contributing to island causes aimed at leaving a lasting impact on the environment of Guam. Happy that she’s had the opportunity to be part of this valuable experience, Nelson said she’s ready to move on to the upcoming competition at the Mall of Asia in the Philippines and through the rest of her reign with the same levels of conviction and motivation.
“Glitz and glamour does play a big role in this, but I feel like our community really likes to see someone who not only can dress up in a dress and do those pageant things, but can also actually get out, get down and dirty, and help the community do cleanups,” she said.
“I do what I do because I love what I’m doing. It feels like something I was born and raised for. More importantly, it [gives me] purpose. I can make a change with what I’m doing and leave a positive impact.”
Off-island, on message
Nelson has been off-island since the first week of October to compete in the preliminary competitions of the Miss Earth Pageant in Manila, and will remain there until the pageant finale on Oct. 29, 2016. Afterwards, she will return to Guam and continue her local reign until giving up her crown to the next Guam pageant winner in March of 2017.
Looking ahead, Nelson said she hopes to catch up on spending time with family and friends, attend college, and possibly start an environmentally centered non-profit organization. It’s clear that her advocacy work on Guam has only just begun, and the island will continue to bask in her beauty and accomplishments for some time to come.
http://www.postguam.com/online_features/a-natural-beauty-miss-earth-guam-gloria-nelson/article_439861f2-91a1-11e6-872d-4f07d15abde8.html