Miss Earth Contestant Visits Toccoa

Toccoa receives a visit from a young woman with local ties that is competing for a world crown.

Alexandra Parker visited Stephens County earlier this week.

She is Miss Earth Dominican Republic.

Parker was born in the Dominican Republic, but grew up in Georgia.

She said she was in Toccoa visiting family, as her dad lives here and her sister graduated from Stephens County High School last year.

According to Parker, the Miss Earth pageant is one of the main three worldwide beauty pageants, along with Miss World and Miss Universe.

She said the Miss Earth pageant focuses on environmental issues.

“Whoever wins Miss Earth gets to represent all the Environmental Protection agencies in the world,” said Parker. “It is a pretty big title. I would not want to be in any other beauty pageant besides this one.”

Parker will be the Dominican Republic’s representative in the worldwide Miss Earth pageant on December 5 in Vienna, Austria.

She said 120 nations will compete in that worldwide pageant.

“Whoever wins will be the one most informed on environmental issues,” said Parker.

While in Toccoa, Parker also spoke to the Toccoa Rotary Club.

She said it was an honor to speak to the club about her platform.

Parker said that platform is to promote clean energy over fossil fuels.

“I think that is a big step for human beings in the future to depend 100 percent on solar and wind energy,” said Parker. “We have a lot of pollution. We can still sustain this lifestyle, use your computer, use your phone, but you can do it without emitting carbon dioxide into the air.”

When she is not competing in the Miss Earth pageant, Parker is studying computer science.