All of Grand Forks should be beaming with pride for Amanda Schembri who has been chosen to compete in the Miss BC, Miss Teen BC and Mrs. BC Pageant on Monday, July 2 at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort Langley.
Schembri will compete with 50 contestants from across the province, who have the dream of becoming the next Miss BC, Miss Teen BC or Mrs. BC. The public is able to support their local contestants by voting for the "People's Choice Award" at www.missbc.ca.
The Miss BC, Teen BC and Mrs. BC Pageant prides itself in it's uniqueness in the pageant world. The program is a development program for young women and for the second year in a row, now has a category for married women, the Mrs. BC Pageant.
"I see no reason why marriage should end someone’s pageant opportunities," says creator and producer Darren Storsley.
The Miss BC program added the "Mrs." component to it last year, for the first time.
All previous rules that may discriminate against women in pageants have also been lifted. Unlike other pageants, there is not a long list of rules that make many women ineligible. For example, there is not a maximum age limit to participate, nor are there height and weight requirements.
Also, among the contestants are ladies who are single parents. This year’s roster of contestants even includes a young lady in a wheelchair.
"The Miss BC Pageant celebrates ALL women, and yes, we would welcome transgendered contestants," says Storsley, who himself was Mr. World Canada 2007.
Leading up to the final pageant, all contestants receive professional training in areas such as public speaking, interview skills, media relations, modelling, manners, etiquette, health, fitness, nutrition, assertiveness and motivational speakers and even self-defense.
"These skills will help all the contestants, whether or not they are chosen as the new Miss or Mrs. BC," says Storsley, who is also director.
"The next Miss BC, Miss Teen BC and Mrs. BC will attend various functions across the province and need to possess the skills these workshops offer, however these are skills that are important in any environment. This is not a Beauty Pageant," he states.
"It will be a well-rounded, intelligent, outgoing and well-spoken young lady who will win the crown, not necessarily the most beautiful girl."
The contestants compete in a private judge's interview, an on-stage interview, sportswear presentation, evening gown presentation, sponsor costume introduction and charity fundraising.
The charity of the Miss BC Pageant is the Cops for Cancer Tour of the Canadian Cancer Society. Since 2007, the Miss BC Pageant has raised over $150, 000 for the Cops for Cancer Tour.
– Submitted by Courage Productions Media