The Battle Ground resident will be crowned Miss Greater Vancouver 2022

Battle Ground-based Natalie Worthy was recently crowned Miss Greater Vancouver 2022 after serving as Miss Battle Ground’s pre-eminent teenager from 2020 to 2021.

Worthy, 18, is happy about the success and what’s to come.

“I am so grateful and so overwhelmed by the opportunity,” said Worthy. “I’ve wanted to be Miss Greater Vancouver or Miss Clark County for a few years since I joined the program, and I’m so excited and grateful for this opportunity.”

Worthy started the Miss America program when she was 16 when she ran for Miss Clark County’s Outstanding Teen. She was the first runner-up at the time, and from then on she competed for Miss Washington’s outstanding teen, where she placed as fourth runner-up.

“I realized (from the program) that I had acquired so many skills in terms of personal development, speaking in front of an audience, building confidence, and helping my community. So I decided to run for Miss Clark County and then I won the title of Miss Greater Vancouver, ”she said.

Speaking of personal development, Worthy said she learned to be herself and to stand on stage with confidence, as well as singing and dancing in front of hundreds of people.

“In that last competition for Miss Clark County, I won the evening dress stage of the competition, which was a big surprise to me,” she said. “But after seeing the jury’s notes, everyone said I was just so confident on stage, so I was so happy to get that feedback and to know that I’ve grown so much as a person and as a performer. “

It takes persistence and a lot more to earn the Miss Greater Vancouver title, Worthy said.

“It’s not just about beauty and nice clothes and a big smile,” she said. “It’s about loving your community, having a big heart and not only competing for yourself, but also for the people around you.”

Worthy said she wanted to support the people in her community and encourage volunteering among young people. She said the title also requires intelligence, serenity, and general kindness.

Worthy started a social impact initiative called Leaders of the Future that aims to build goals, volunteering, and life skills. She said she was committed to advocating for the greater Vancouver area, especially to include other youth, as she has been volunteering since she was 7. At the time, Worthy was volunteering at the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge where she planted trees. That inspired her to do more volunteer work in Clark County, where she learned how to help people in need.

“I’ve seen firsthand the people I’ve helped, and I see the need for young volunteers in the area, and I see the value young people can have in our communities,” Worthy said. “That’s why I decided to do volunteer work and to involve people more in their civic responsibility for their community.”

Worthy believes that young people who are not old enough to vote feel like they lack civic responsibility or a voice in their community. When a person volunteers, they can be part of a team or take a leadership role in any organization they work in, she said.

“When I help people in my community, I feel so valuable in knowing that I can support someone else’s life when they help those around them,” Worthy said.

Worthy is currently studying at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, studying singing. She plans to volunteer with an organization called Serve the People Tacoma, which provides food and basic needs to people struggling with homelessness.