MPE 2017 bet Samantha Acosta promotes 'Green Time'

Miss Philippines Earth 2017 candidate Samantha Viktoria Leonardo Acosta is wasting no time to save Mother Earth.

Acosta, 19, of Pulilan, Bulacan has encouraged the people, especially the youth, to make something meaningful for Mother Earth daily for five minutes through her advocacy dubbed "Green Time."

"My advocacy is Green Time which is aimed at the youth to allot five minutes of their time everyday and do something meaningful for Mother Earth," Acosta said.

"The time for Mother Earth is now! No matter how small it is for Mother Earth, it can be the beginning of something  big. Alone you can make a difference and together we can make an impact," she added.

Acosta is a third year college student at the University of Asia and the Pacific in Pasig City where she is taking up entrepreneurial management.

At a young age, she has established her own rice retailing store

Asked why she took up entrepreneurial management, Acosta said:"I took up that course because I wanted to harness and develop my skills which is interpersonal and communication skills. If I develop those skills, I would be able to further impart my advocacy to everyone, especially to the youth."

Acosta stands 5'7 1/2 and measures 34-26-35. It wasn't the first time that she joined the beauty pageant.

Acosta, or popularly known as Sam to her close friends, first became a winner for Science Questor 2012 when she was still in second years high school at the Holy Spirit Academy of Malolos, Bulacan.

One pageant led to another. She was crowned Bb Pulilan in 2014; became one of the winners of RCBC Next Generation (2015); became EMA's Next Top Model in UAP (2016); and Reyna ng Bulacan-Earth 2016;

Her parents - Ronaldo and Ma. Viktoria - are supportive of her stints in beauty contests. "All-out kami sa pagsuporta sa kanya sa pagsali sa mga beauty pageant."

For three years now, Acosta has been training under the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp led by Rodgil Flores.

"More on catwalk ang training ko these days," the teen beauty queen said.

Acosta also said that she follows a strict diet. "No rice, no sweets and no chips. I go to the gym 4 to 5 times a week."

The grand coronation of the Miss Philippines Earth 2017 beauty contest will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on July 15. - ROBERT REQUINTINA

* Images courtesy of Noli Berioso of OPMB Worldwide.