A 17-year-old aspiring model and frequent pageant contestant remembered for her kindness will be laid to rest Friday, reports the Asian Journal.
Sharmaine Legaspi died in a single-car accident in California’s Riverside County on Easter Sunday.
Doctors treated her 19-year-old male passenger for non-life-threatening injuries.
“My daughter is in heaven now. Thank you for the loving family and friends who shared their time to be with her in this life. I love you and you will always stay in my heart forever,” Legaspi’s mother Marieanne wrote in a Facebook post.
Patch reports Lagaspi recently placed fifth in the Miss Philippines USA Beauty Pageant.
She posted about one of her pageant experiences just last month on Facebook.
She also thanked her co-workers at Chucky Cheese.
“They’ve inspired me to keep pushing myself and to take the time to smile every day and show kindness to every person no matter how hard the day is. I look forward to continue improving and seeing how far this journey will go! Thank you guys, love you 
,” she said on Facebook.
She attended Murietta Mesa High School.
“Words cannot express how heavy we are feeling as a school community,” school principal Scott Richards Jr. said. “As a school community, we must continue to embrace one another with compassion, empathy and understanding.”
Authorities have not yet determined what caused Legaspi to lose control of her vehicle.
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