CHARLESTON, W.Va. -  Miss Florida International, Kelsey Craft, 26, of Dunedin, Fla. was crowned Miss International 2017, Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Annual Miss International Pageant held in its new home of Charleston, W.Va.  The three-hour event took place at The Clay Center, featuring nearly 50 contestants from around the world competing in four categories, including interview, fitness-wear, fun fashion and evening gown.  

The International Pageants system promotes community service with an emphasis on each contestant's competition score based on knowledge of and work with her platform.  Throughout her reign, Craft will promote the importance of healthy living through her work with the Blue Zones Project®.  The Blue Zones Project helps transform communities in the U.S. into areas where the healthy choice is easy and people live longer with a high quality of life.

"The Miss International title and role will amplify my voice and help me spread my message of healthy living throughout the United States and the world," said Craft. "I learned about the system by following now past Miss International titleholders and I was so impressed by the system's ability to help others embrace and promote their life's purpose."

Craft will graduate with a Masters of Medical Science Degree in August 2017 from Nova Southeastern University's Fort Meyer regional campus and will then begin a career as a physician assistant.  During her reign as Miss International 2017, she plans to introduce the Blue Zones Project to schools, businesses and community organizations and help implement its mission in multiple cities throughout the United States.

Outside her career and community service work, Craft enjoys learning how to play the harmonica, outdoor sports, dancing, music and traveling toward her goal of visiting all 50 U.S. states by the age of 30.