Windsor Woman Crowned Miss Canada 2018

Quite the honour for a Windsor woman.

Maria Giorlando has been crowned Miss Canada 2018 this past weekend at a pageant held in Laval, Quebec.

The 23-year-old registered nurse beat out 25 other women from across Canada to win the title.

Giorlando says she's proof you can do anything if you put your mind to it.

"If a small town girl from Windsor can do this, why can't somebody else. I just want to really push that other girls can do this. Believe in yourself. You are all unique and beautiful in your own way and I had a dream, I turned that dream into a goal and there's no reason why anybody else can't do that too."

Windsor's Maria Giorlando (centre) at the 2018 Miss Canada pageant in Laval, Quebec (Photo courtesy of Maria Giorlando)

She says the pageant went just as she imagined.

"I've been preparing for this for probably six months now and I never wanted to doubt myself during this process. So when I heard my name called it was a great sense of validation. I would say that I was shocked, but shocked in a way that I knew it was going to be me. I felt like it was part of my destiny that I was supposed to be Miss Canada."

Giorlando says she's excited for the opportunity.

"It brings you so much confidence, so many different opportunities. You have the ability to network yourself, to meet so many amazing people that can help you forward yourself in your career, in your social life. Overall, it gives you opportunities to volunteer out in the community and to just showcase who you are as an individual."

Giorlando was also named Miss Tecumseh in 2016.

She is currently the chair of the Optimist Club of St. Clair Beach and plans to use her year long reign as Miss Canada to promote the club's values of positivity and kindness to others.