A mental health advocate who aspires to inspire courage and bravery amid challenges takes the stage as she vies for the Miss Bacolod MassKara (MBM) crown this year.
Elli Rose Elola, 23, a Psychology graduate from the University of the Philippines-Visayas, brings her advocacy on mental health as she starts her MBM pageant journey.
“I realized that it is important to embody courage and bravery because it is also an opportunity for others to learn from my experiences,” she said when asked about the struggles she underwent in the past and the lessons she learned from them.
Her biggest struggle was during the COVID-19 pandemic when she juggled working, being a student, and joining pageants, Elola said.
Her mother also died of cancer during the pandemic and she said it was a hard moment for her.
“But I’m sure my mother is proud of her daughter’s achievements”, Elola added.
She said her favorite Bacolod food is bitso-bitso, which her mother used to prepare for her.
“It is a simple and humble food but it gives me a meaningful experience especially when it was prepared by my mom,” she said.
Elola is one of the 15 candidates vying for the Miss Bacolod MassKara 2023 crown with the pageant night set at the University of Saint La Salle Coliseum on October 16.*