A teenager from Newport who has secured world championships in ballroom and Latin dance is preparing to take part in the first-ever Miss Teen Wales final this weekend.
Olivia Stepien, born in Newport to Polish parents, will join fellow Miss Wales and Miss Teen Wales competitors at a fundraising ball on Friday before joining an empowerment day on Saturday, where contestants will walk barefoot across broken glass and splinter wooden boards to demonstrate feminine strength and self-assurance.
The Miss Wales final is set to occur at The Riverfront in Newport on Saturday night, while the Miss Teen Wales final takes place on Sunday at a theatre in Cwmbran and Aberdare. Olivia will compete across several categories, including an opening segment featuring flag colours and a formal evening wear section.
Olivia discovered an interest in modelling after collaborating with UK London for photographic sessions and chose to enter Miss Teen Wales following the discovery of online promotions, describing it as a chance to encounter new people, enjoy herself, and try something completely novel.
All Miss Wales and Miss Teen Wales competitors are gathering contributions for A Sisterhood, a charitable organisation offering support to women, children, and animals fleeing domestic abuse.
Olivia started with photographic work through UK London and that ignited a passion within her. She came across Miss Teen Wales promotions on the internet and felt determined to take part. It appeared genuinely appealing and presented a fantastic opportunity to socialise and enjoy herself—a brand new experience given this marks the inaugural Miss Teen Wales competition.
She additionally acts as a representative for a campaign tackling period poverty, preparing bundles of complimentary sanitary products alongside fellow volunteers and positioning them in community areas for those in need of essential hygiene supplies.
Olivia, who holds world championship titles in the under-14 and under-16 age groups alongside a Welsh Masters accolade, takes pride in her entirely Polish ancestry while consistently performing and competing beneath the Welsh flag because of her dual citizenship.
Should she achieve victory on Sunday, she intends to leverage the Miss Teen Wales platform to further raise awareness about period poverty and champion young individuals from diverse backgrounds across Wales.
Voting remains open for Miss Teen Wales, and supporters can discover Olivia’s voting details in the finalists section of the official Miss Teen Wales website.