Marinda inspired to give

A tragic 2012 marked the beginning of dedicated charity work for Baldivis woman Marinda Ergovic — a path which has led the 22-year-old beauty to compete in this year’s Miss Humanity Australia pageant.

A cancer scare and the death of her dad inspired Ms Ergovic to help others, committing time to raise the profile of the DonateLife Australia and Look Good... Feel Better foundations.

She said working with the charities had helped her overcome difficult times.

“I want to inspire others and be a voice,” she said.

“I’ve been through these experiences and I want to educate others — I hope I can relate to people in some way.

“I want to advocate for the causes close to my heart.”

Ms Ergovic said the discovery of a lump under her eye when she was just 20 was a wake-up call.

“I was faced with having skin cancer and underwent Mohs surgery to have it removed,” she said.

“I have a strong family history of skin cancers and several family members who have both survived and passed from melanoma.

“That stage of my life led me to thinking that cancer does, in fact, touch every person’s life in some way.

“It made me more aware of sun protection.

“I wear sunscreen all the time. Life’s too short.”

Two surgeries to remove the benign lump were followed just months later by the death of Ms Ergovic’s beloved dad, Mario, in a car crash.

She said her dad donated his kidneys and a lung to save two men and a young boy.

Ms Ergovic said it highlighted the importance of knowing family members’ wishes about organ donation and pleaded with everyone to have “the chat that saves lives”.

“We keep in touch with the donor families, we send cards at Christmas,” she said.

“It’s really beautiful, it changes your perspective of life.”

Ms Ergovic said the Miss Humanity Australia pageant was an ideal platform to advocate for her chosen charities.

“I stumbled across it and thought this is me,” she said.

“It’s something different and it lets me represent causes I’m really passionate about.”

Ms Ergovic, who has no modelling experience said the contest was challenging.

“I’m quite shy. It’s getting me out of my shell and making me more confident,” she said.

“You meet so many nice people advocating for their own causes, it’s so inspiring.”

Ms Ergovic will compete in the State heat in April with the national title contested on May 15 and 16.