THUNDER BAY -- Combining both brains and beauty, Thunder Bay's Miss Universe Canada contestant is using her pageant platform to raise awareness on mental health.
Melinda Henderson, 23, believes there isn't enough support for Aboriginal youth, especially in remote communities, to help overcome psychological illnesses.
"Mental health is something that can happen to anyone and it doesn't discriminate," Henderson said.
"It's important that we pay attention and that we're able to recognize the signs because otherwise we will suffer and look for unhealthy ways to cope with something that we don't understand."
Henderson grew up around alcohol and domestic violence, being exposed to a plethora of negative experiences. Henderson felt it was her duty to share her story with those who are struggling.
"Those negative experiences don't matter," Henderson explained.
"It made me into who I am today and those experiences challenged me as a person and made me want to pursue things that I never thought I could."
This year, Henderson became the first Anishinaabe woman to be competing in Miss Universe Canada.
When she was selected as a finalist, Henderson knew she would draw upon her experiences with anxiety and depression as her platform to promote mental health awareness.
“A lot of Aboriginals are suffering from mental illnesses and don’t know because they are not educated about it and don’t have the resources for it,” Henderson said.
“It breaks my heart. It’s really hard to deal with but that’s why I use pageants as my platform to talk about it.”
Henderson will compete in Miss Universe Canada Pageant in Toronto on June 11.