Former Iron Mountain resident Lara Hakamaki has been crowned Miss Eco Michigan. She will compete for the title of Miss Eco USA in January in Orlando, Fla. (Contributed photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Lara Hakamaki has been crowned Miss Eco Michigan 2025.

The 2016 Iron Mountain High School graduate will move on to represent the state at the national level Jan. 9-12, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. The new reigning Miss Eco USA, along with Miss Eco Canada, will travel to Egypt to compete for the title of Miss Eco International 2026.

“This is known as the largest pageant in the Middle East, and the sixth-largest in the world,” Hakamaki said.

She was first introduced to the pageantry world in 2022. “I had absolutely no prior experience — I saw a Facebook post for Miss Michigan applicants and thought why not,” she added.

Hakamaki fell in love with the whole process, and took the stage once again in 2023 and 2024 competing for the Miss Michigan title. She was selected by her peers both years, as the recipient of the Miss Michigan Congeniality Award.

Former Iron Mountain resident Lara Hakamaki with one of her bunnies on her homestead in Ithaca, lower Michigan. She estimates she now has about 40 animals. (Courtesy photo)

“I also competed as Miss Michigan for America Strong pageant in 2024, and was chosen as Miss Congeniality by my fellow contestants,” Hakamaki said. “That was three in a row — what an honor.”

Hakamaki said she feels that the Miss Eco pageant matches her the best as a person.

“I believe pageantry is about showing the real raw and authentic version of who we are,” she added. “Not perfect people with perfect bodies, perfect skin, perfect hair, perfect everything.”

The daughter of David and Gina Hakamaki of Iron Mountain feels fortunate to have grown up in the Upper Peninsula, and believes those who live in the area develop a true love for the environment.

“I was constantly telling my parents, ‘I want this animal, I want that animal,’ and my mom would tell me that ‘When you have your own house you can get that animal,'” Hakamaki said. “Well, I may have taken that a little too seriously, because I now have about 40 animals.”

Former Iron Mountain resident Lara Hakamaki competing in the Miss Eco Michigan pageant. (Courtesy photo)

Hakamaki owns a small homestead in Ithaca in lower Michigan, where she raises chickens, ducks, bunnies and a turkey, along with her dogs, cats, bearded dragons and a snake. She plans to soon add baby goats to the list.

She also grows and tends a large garden that provides for her and the animals.

“I just love living this way, because it’s in tune with nature and I respect the land,” Hakamaki noted.

“The animals depend on me, but they also give me so much wholeness back,” she added. “It’s not just me taking care of them — they’re also taking care of my mental health.”

She is also a firm believer in the five Rs of waste management — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle.

Hakamaki has even turned an old leaking camper into a dream home for her chickens.

“It’s so pink and beautiful — it’s like a Barbie paradise for the chickens,” she said. “It even has wallpaper, pictures and curtains.”

Miss Eco International focuses on advancing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Hakamaki has chosen sustainable consumption and production and health and well-being as her two platforms for the competition.

“Sustainability and mental health awareness — that’s what I’m passionate about,” she said.

The 2020 Albion College graduate developed a passion for psychology at college and now is director of corporate development at Michigan Psychological Care in St. Johns, Mich.

Michigan Psychological Care is an outpatient mental health company that specializes in therapy, psychological evaluations, psychiatric medication management, and substance use treatment.

“I am constantly trying to figure out how best to help people and get them access to mental health care,” she said. “I’m trying to break that stigma and I’m taking what I do for work into the pageantry world.”

Hakamaki is taking the next three months to prepare for the competition in January.

“I have been working on my speaking skill, reading more about current events, volunteering, working out, eating better and working on my walk,” she said. “It’s a lot of work — even just at the national level, you have to take it up a notch.”

Miss Eco USA is similar to other pageants, as they have multiple categories such as interview and fashion where each contestant is judged.

“Winning nationals gets you to a point where you actually get to make a huge change in the world, as you will get to work with the UN to advance those goals,” Hakamaki said.

She is excited to compete, but is looking forward to getting to know the other contestants. “That’s always been my favorite part of pageantry,” Hakamaki said.

“I’ve only started a couple years ago, and I’ve met some of my very best friends that I talk to every day at pageants.”

She explained many times these women get labeled. “When you actually get into pageantry, you realize how incredibly intelligent these women really are,” Hakamaki said. “In order to do well in an interview you have to know about current events, you have to have a strong platform, good public speaking skills and get your point across well. These are authors, doctors, nurses and lawyers, and all different incredible women.”

Hakamaki is currently in the process of fundraising and seeking sponsorship for the pageant.

Anyone who is seeking help with mental health resources or would like to sponsor her can email lara.hakamaki@ccmcpsych.com.

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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.