A Fairview teenager will compete this weekend in the Miss Pennsylvania Teen pageant.

Alyssa Boyer, 17, is Miss Northwest Pennsylvania Teen USA. She'll be competing this weekend in Johnstown against about 50 other young women.

The Fairview High School senior says pageants are all about empowering women, and supporting causes they care about.

The winner of Miss Teen PA will move on to the Miss Teen USA pageant, and then Miss Teen Universe.

Boyer says it's been a rewarding experience and offers advice to anybody else who'd like to give it a shot, “It's like giving yourself a voice and to use that voice and be able to have a platform. My platform is eating disorders and so I'm able to use my voice and get that message out there to everyone. Getting involved is just taking that first step, it's the hardest step, but once you're in it you'll be super confident, so just believe in yourself and you got it,” said Boyer.

Erie News Now is a proud sponsor of Alyssa's journey, we wish her the best of luck this weekend!