Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez reminded everyone to step back and take care of themselves to avoid mental and physical exhaustion.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, February 2 before she head back to Puerto Rico for the Miss World finals, Tracy was asked how she has been taking care of herself days after the pageant industry was rocked by the death of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst.

“I myself have been really thinking about what happened. And my initial reaction when I heard the news was that it’s very important that we really start prioritizing ourselves and our emotional and mental health,” she said.

“Being in the industry, being in the limelight, people think it’s easy to be here. We just have to look pretty, we just have to practice being in front of the public but it’s difficult. Being here trying to represent something bigger than ourselves, sometimes we tend to forget about taking care of ourselves,” she said.

“And that is why it’s very important what I did for myself. I stepped back. I know [I need] to take a rest. I recognize that I honor that, I listen to my body, I listen to my mind.”

The Cebuana beauty queens emphasized that it’s important to listen to the people around you but at the same time prioritize your health and have time for family and friends because depression can strike anytime and has no face.

Cheslie, who represented the USA in the Miss Universe pageant in Atlanta, Georgia died on Sunday, January 30. Autopsy reports ruled that her death was due to suicide.

Aside from being a beauty queen, Cheslie was also a lawyer and worked as a correspondent for Extra TV.