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Vanessa Tillner is no stranger to beauty pageants.

The 17-year-old Bayview and Finch avenues resident has been strutting the catwalk for the past three years after her mother's suggestion to get into pageantry.

Tillner, who will head into her final year at St. Joseph's Morrow Park Catholic School come September, has competed in several Filipino pageants and was most recently the second runner up in the Miss Philippines Hamilton competition in May.

Now, Tillner is busy preparing to represent North York in the Miss Teen Globe pageant Aug. 8 to 10 at the Leah Posluns Theatre, 4588 Bathurst St., north of Sheppard Avenue.

"It's a hobby now," Tillner said of pageantry. "It taught me how to walk in heels."

The Miss Canada Globe competition will be made up of talent, evening gown, swimsuit and question and answer portions, along with a platform statement.

In the platform portion, the girls get to choose an issue they want to talk about and a charity that helps with the issue.

Tillner chose teenage pregnancies as her subject.

"I know all teens can relate to it and they know how big of an issue this is because it has grown over the years," she said.

Vanessa said she isn't letting nerves get the best of her for the upcoming Miss Canada Globe, noting many contestants fear the question and answer portion but to her it's just like having a conversation.

"We have two dances to perform and I've been practicing in front of my parents," she said.

Although Tillner, who wants to get into corporate law, keeps a busy schedule, she still finds time to play badminton, volleyball and softball. She has also joined her school's environmental club and wrote for the student newspaper.