A Caribbean beauty competition was well worth it for Asha Galloway, even if she didn’t bring home the crown.

The 25-year-old was named third runner-up in the Miss Plus Size Universe pageant in Trinidad and Tobago last month.

About 100 people entered the competition.

“I was very surprised and pleased,” she said. “That is basically fourth place overall.”

She admitted that not everything went as anticipated, but said the experience was interesting.

“It was definitely a growing time and I met some phenomenal women,” Miss Galloway said. “In the airport in Miami I met Debbie Shannon, Miss Plus America.”

Miss Galloway scored some tips on modelling as a plus -size woman from the American beauty.

“She told me that you have to walk heel to toe, instead of across and over, which is much easier if you are plus size,” Miss Galloway said. “For me, that really set the trend for a friendly competition.”

Most of the women in the competition were similarly supportive, and eager to make new friends, she said.

Miss Galloway enjoyed the camaraderie of the event. There were women from various Caribbean islands, from the Czech Republic, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

“Trinidad seemed to be a very beautiful country and very mountainous,” she said. “It was very picturesque.”

She arrived in Trinidad and soon realised she was overdressed.

“They don’t have a winter at all,” she said. “It was a total culture shock.”

She learned a lot from the experience, Miss Galloway said. “I learned how to treat myself around other women and how to handle myself in a foreign country. You have to be aware of other countries’ cultural traditions and respect them.”

Part of the competition required the Bermuda College student to dress in a national costume.

Miss Galloway dressed as a gombey.

“Because Bermuda is so culturally diverse, it was easy to represent the Island,” she said. “I believe I projected an image of a colourful Island and I showed that I was proud of my heritage. I think the gombey suit really shows the resourcefulness of the Bermudian people.”

She advised anyone considered entering a pageant to research it before they entered.

“Maybe you could talk to other delegates from previous years, before making the choice to go,” she said. “Be yourself and don’t change for anyone. If you go in with the mindset that you will be excellent, your inner beauty will shine out.”

“The rewards of meeting people from around the world made going really worth it.”

Miss Galloway hopes to become an art therapist.

She won the Miss Big and Beautiful Competition in Bermuda in 2011.