San Diegan named Miss Earth Air - We Clean Trails

Marisa Paige Butler of San Diego has become the third United States representative in three consecutive years to earn an international title on the Miss Earth stage.

On Nov. 20, Butler was named the 21st Miss Earth Air, one of four international titles awarded in the global pageant dedicated to environmental impact. The grand finals were broadcast live on the VIP channel.

Eighty-nine delegates from around the globe competed for Miss Earth 2021. The most coveted title of Miss Earth was captured by Destiny Wagner of Belize. The additional two crowns earned were Miss Earth Water Romina Denecken of Chile and Miss Earth Fire Baitong Jareerat Petsom of Thailand. Wagner’s placement marks the first international title in any pageant organization for the Central American country.

Butler follows in the footsteps of Lindsey Coffey of Pennsylvania, who in November 2020, became the first American representative to earn the Miss Earth title during the 20th anniversary coronation. In 2019, USA’s representative Emanii Davis of Georgia was also named to the Air title. This makes the three-year streak by the Miss Earth USA organization the best record for any country in international pageantry.

Based in the Philippines, Miss Earth delegates serve their nations as Beauties for a Cause, conducting ecological impact projects in their home countries. Miss Earth empowers women through community leadership, eco-tourism, and environmental education. It is recognized as the globe’s most relevant pageant, and in the United States has been named best national pageant by several American media networks.

Born and raised in Maine, Butler, age 27, was a successful three-sport college athlete in soccer, lacrosse, and cheerleading while earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration at Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

Butler now works as a financial advisor in San Diego, where she started the nonprofit organization, We Clean Trails. The club meets weekly at various parks and beaches to clean up litter and educate the community on recycling. She was recently selected as the 2021 San Diego County Parks & Recreation Champion.

Butler is no stranger to pageantry. In 2018, she represented the USA at the Miss World competition, where she placed top 30. In 2016, she represented Maine at the Miss USA preliminary for Miss Universe. During Miss Earth 2021, Butler was also awarded a Gold Medal for Talent for her operatic vocal performance and Bronze Medal in Fitness & Sportswear.

Butler said, “I believe the most important thing we can be doing in this world is take action. I invite everyone to take action and be part of the solution in the fight for Mother Earth.”

Butler will soon begin travels to other nations to conduct environmental work and promote eco-tourism. The next Miss Earth USA representative will be crowned on Jan. 8, 2022, in Orlando, Fla., where both Coffey and Butler will make appearances.

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