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In an era where visibility is often mistaken for purpose, Candice Yu represents a quieter, more deliberate form of influence. Raised between Eastern and Western cultures, she moves through the worlds of pageantry, advocacy, and public life with a sense of inner alignment that resists simplification. Her journey is not defined by titles alone, but by the questions she chooses to ask — about identity, responsibility, emotional well-being, and what it truly means to lead with intention.
As Miss Intercontinental Hong Kong 2024, Candice carries more than a crown; she carries a philosophy shaped by cultural duality, lived experience, and a deep commitment to empowerment that begins from within. From emotional literacy and women’s leadership to sustainable fashion and mindful living, her voice reflects a generation redefining beauty as consciousness rather than display.
Candice, your journey combines pageantry, public presence, and advocacy. At this stage of your life, how would you describe your personal sense of purpose — beyond titles and appearances?
Growing up between Eastern and Western cultures has profoundly shaped who I am and how I see the world. From the East, I learned humility, harmony, and a deep respect for collective well-being.From the West, I embraced individuality, self-expression, and the courage to speak one’s truth. Living between both worlds taught me that identity is not a fixed point; it’s a bridge. Today, my purpose lies in being that bridge: connecting cultures, fostering dialogue, and creating spaces where diversity is celebrated with openness and respect.
Titles may open doors, but purpose is what guides how we walk through them. For me, that purpose is empowering younger women to move beyond societal limitations, to trust their own voices, and to step into leadership in their own lives — on their own terms.
Serving as a judge for Miss Chinese World was a powerful reminder of this. Witnessing talented women from different parts of the world, each carrying her own story, strength, and cultural pride, has deeply inspired me. I’ve also learned that impact doesn’t always happen on a stage. Sometimes it unfolds in a conversation, a mentorship moment, a workshop, or a simple exchange of understanding. Those quieter moments often leave the deepest imprint — and they are what continue to anchor my sense of purpose today.
As Miss Intercontinental Hong Kong 2024, you represent more than a place — you embody a set of values. What sense of responsibility does this role carry for you today?
It is an honour that continues to humble me every day. Hong Kong is a place defined by resilience, adaptability, and extraordinary cultural depth. It is where tradition and modernity coexist. When I represent Hong Kong, I am not simply carrying a title — I am carrying its stories, heritage, and an enduring spirit of perseverance.
Beyond representation, this role has allowed me to share our culture, warmth, and innovation with women all around the world, while also learning from their perspectives in return. Meeting so many talented, compassionate, and like-minded women globally has been incredibly inspiring; these exchanges remind me that empowerment grows stronger when it is shared.
My mission today is to use this platform to create lasting, positive impact — through cultural exchange, leadership, and advocacy. I am deeply committed to empowering younger women, supporting those who face adversity, and contributing meaningfully to environmental and social causes. It is a lifelong commitment — one that reflects who I am and the values I hope to pass forward.
You often speak about women’s empowerment. From your perspective, what form of empo-
werment truly changes a woman’s life — inner strength, education, opportunity, or visibility?
To me, the most transformative empowerment is holistic; it begins within and is strengthened through education, opportunity, and authentic self-expression. Visibility can open doors, but it is inner strength and emotional clarity that determine whether a woman feels capable of walking through them.
Through my journey with HerPower Canada — a youth-led nonprofit organization committed to helping young women grow not only stronger but truly supported — I’ve come to believe deeply that emotional wellness is the foundation of true strength. When women are supported in understanding their emotions, developing self-worth, and finding inner stability, confidence grows naturally.
Education plays a vital role in this journey. It builds resilience, expands perspective, and creates equal opportunity for women from diverse backgrounds to believe in their potential and claim their place in the world. Authenticity is equally powerful. In the pageant world, it’s easy to feel pressure to fit a certain mould, but the moments when I felt most confident and most connected were when I allowed myself to be fully myself — imperfect, evolving, and sincere. Ultimately, inner strength is the quiet courage to stay true to who you are, even when the world expects something else. When education, emotional wellness, and authenticity come together, empowerment becomes lasting — and that is what truly changes a woman’s life.
Environmental consciousness and sustainable fashion are increasingly shaping how we define modern beauty. How do you personally integrate responsibility, self-expression, and mindful living into the way you approach fashion today?
To me, sustainable fashion is a mindset that naturally connects responsibility, self-expression, and mindful living. When each of us makes more conscious choices — even small ones — we contribute to protecting the planet and shaping a more thoughtful future together.
I see fashion as a long-term relationship rather than a moment of consumption. What we choose to wear should reflect not only who we are, but also what we stand for. This perspective guides my support for the circular economy and my belief that true beauty begins with awareness — an understanding of how our choices affect people, communities, and the planet.
Through my work in the sustainable fashion space, I’ve seen how the industry can create meaningful impact beyond aesthetics. Lasting change rarely comes from one grand gesture, but from the collective effect of many mindful decisions.
Beauty is often understood as something visual, yet your journey suggests a deeper evolution. How has your understanding of beauty changed from the beginning of your path to who you are today?
Growing up between Eastern and Western cultures, my understanding of beauty has evolved alongside my own growth. I often reflect on this journey through two powerful characters that have shaped my perspective at different stages of my life: Barbie and Mulan. When I was younger, dressing up like Barbie represented how I first understood beauty. She symbolised femininity, elegance, and the joy of self-expression. To me, being beautiful meant embracing womanhood — being stylish, graceful, and confident in one’s appearance. There was something empowering about celebrating softness and femininity, and that version of beauty played an important role in my early sense of identity.
As I grew older and experienced more of life, my definition of beauty deepened — and that’s where Mulan became a meaningful metaphor for me. Mulan represents purpose-driven beauty. She embodies courage, loyalty, and a quiet strength rooted in values rather than validation. She breaks through gender expectations not to seek recognition, but to honour her family and protect something greater than herself. What I admire most is that after fulfilling her mission, she returns home grounded and unchanged by ego.
Today, beauty to me is no longer just about how we look, where we come from, or how the world labels us. It’s about self-definition. It’s the courage to choose your own path, to live with intention, and to use your strengths in service of something meaningful. Growth itself is a beautiful transformation. When beauty is guided by purpose, identity, and inner truth, it becomes something lasting — and that is the beauty I strive to embody now.
Charity and social contribution are recurring themes in your life. Was there a particular cause or moment that shaped your desire to give back and use your voice for something larger than yourself?
As I moved through different environments and prepared to step onto global stages through pageantry, I met people from many backgrounds who shared a common experience. Beneath confidence and achievement, many carried emotional pressure, loneliness, and overwhelm that often went unseen. These conversations showed me how deeply emotional health shapes our well-being, relationships, and ability to grow under pressure.
Across cultures — both individualist and collectivist — expressing emotions is often difficult and deeply generational. Growing up with a Chinese, collectivist perspective, I saw how prioritizing harmony can mean silencing personal needs. Over time, unspoken emotions surface as stress or disconnection, revealing how few initiatives truly support emotional well-being.
This realization led me to become an ambassador for HerPower, a youth-led nonprofit focused on emotional literacy and mental health awareness for girls and young women. HerPower emphasizes prevention through early education, creating safe spaces where emotional skills, resilience, and healthy relationships are built before challenges escalate.
HerPower also partners with Women’s College Hospital, directing donations to its mental health programs. By combining early prevention with care across every stage of life, this partnership offers a more compassionate and continuous approach to emotional well-being. To me, giving back is about care and responsibility. When empathy guides our actions, we help create a future where the next generation can grow with greater understanding, resilience, and hope.
Looking at your path today, what mission feels most true to you — the one that quietly guides your decisions and the direction of your life?
At this stage of my life, the mission that feels most true to me is simple, yet deeply meaningful: to uplift others and to do good, consistently and sincerely. As I continue to grow and evolve, I try to use whatever strength, influence, or awareness I have to bring positive energy to the people around me and, where possible, to a wider community.
This mission shows up in many forms — through advocating for women’s empowerment, supporting emotional well-being, embracing environmental consciousness, and using beauty and creativity as tools for connection rather than comparison. I believe feminine strength has a quiet power: the ability to heal, inspire, and bring light into spaces that need it most.
I’ve learned that impact doesn’t always need to be loud or immediate. It’s often built through small, intentional actions repeated over time. I truly believe that when we act with kindness and integrity, goodness finds its way back to us. Creating a better future begins with how we show up each day.
I’m grateful that this mission reflects who I am, and I’m committed to continuing this path — with humility, purpose, and faith in the ripple effect of doing good.
