LETHBRIDGE – You’ve likely watched a Miss America pageant or seen the reality television series, “Toddlers & Tiaras,” but what is it really like to take a title?
Seven budding beauty queens from southern Alberta are finding out after being crowned regional royalty on May 9 at a National Canadian Girl, Teen & Miss Pageant.
While big smiles and even bigger hair may come to mind, the competition is actually a scholarship program judged on personality and public speaking skills.
To practice, girls compete in their own province at a preliminary pageant and provincial final, before going on to contend for a national title in July.
This year, southern Alberta has five representatives from Lethbridge and two from Claresholm.
Mikayla Jestin is Baby Miss Southern Alberta, while Danica Hungrywolf has been crowned Tiny Miss. Petite Miss went to Montana Jonassen-Armstrong and Young Miss to Taylor Solvey. The two Claresholm residents are Jr. Teen Miss Cassidy Smith and Mrs. Southern Alberta Desiree Smith.
If that last title made you do a double take, it’s not a typo. Any female 35 and under can compete for a crown and you don’t need to be a miss to do it.
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Desiree Smith is married and a mother, but pageants have become a family affair for the 35-year-old.
Her niece has been participating for four years. This year, her daughter Cassidy decided to get involved and so the health care aide thought she’d give it a try, too.
“I am not a girly girl, I did not go to my graduation, I did not do prom. The only dress I’ve ever owned is a wedding dress and now I’m online looking at dresses. It’s quite fun and exciting,” said Smith.
But beyond the pretty pageantry is a whole lot of work.
“I don’t think I have slept a full night, because I’m thinking of different ways to get donations for the children’s hospital and different ideas for fundraising,” said Smith.
The group of seven girls will spend the year raising money for the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, as well as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Chinook Regional Hospital.
They join contestants from across Canada in raising money for sick kids, as the pageant has picked children’s hospitals as its choice charity.
The southern Alberta women and little ladies will also be making public appearances and asking for help to cover the cost of their trip to Vancouver for nationals.
For Smith, beating out her country-wide competition would be nice, but the experience is really about bonding with her daughter and uncovering her confidence.
“I’m a very shy person and that’s another reason why I wanted to do this: Working with my daughter in the community I’ve been able to start talking to people. Every time I put on my tiara, I’m a different person. I can talk to anybody and I don’t get that nervous,” said Smith.
Nationals take place from July 10 to 14 at the Sandman Signature Vancouver Airport Hotel.
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