Eight girls vying for the title of Miss Castlegar will take the stage next Friday to put their skills they’ve learned over the past five months to the test.
Sabrina Borad (Miss Royal Canadian Legion), Ashleigh Cameron (Miss Selkirk Lions), Kelsey Voykin (Miss Sunrise 2000 Rotary), Mirraka Moreau (Miss West’s Fashions), Taryn Scheltens (Miss Rotary), Marie Soukeroff (Miss Krueckl Financial), Dani Wah (Miss Kootenay Smile Studio) and Kailynn D’Onofrio (Miss Apple Auto Glass) have been working hard since January, honing their skills for the pageant.
Carol Sommerville, pageant organizer said the girls have prepared by meeting each week for three hours to practice public speaking, modelLing and keeping up to date with current events.
They’re also trained in nutrition, women’s safety and awareness, financial planning, makeup, resume writing, customer service and etiquette, personal interview skills, time management, city council, political parties and Castlegar history.
“They’ve enjoyed the public speaking because they feel they’ve benefited the most,” Sommerville said.
The girls, who are all in Grade 10 or 11, had their first public speaking opportunity when they introduced themselves to Castlegar city council on May 16.
During the pageant, contestants will speak on topics that they will have prepared themselves.
Sommerville said they’ve also enjoyed the modelling and etiquette portions of the training.
Prior to pageant night, each girl will go to visit the service club or business they’re representing to introduce themselves. Then, they’ll learn about the club or business and deliver a speech about it during the pageant.
Sommerville said if the girls have an affiliation with one of the groups, she’ll represent that one, otherwise they’re drawn out of a hat.
Along with speeches, pageant night will feature an opening dance, talent presentation, frugal fashion show, evening gowns, impromptu question and then awards and crowning.
But the journey doesn’t end for the girls who aren’t crowned Miss Castlegar or Miss Castlegar Princess (the runner-up.)
“[The girls] continue volunteering until December with community activities,” Sommerville said, such as the Pass Creek Fall Fair and Canada Day celebrations.
“It just gives them an extra opportunity to volunteer if they want to.”
Miss Castlegar and Miss Castlegar Princess will travel to pageants and parades in different communities and act as a youth ambassador for Castlegar. They’ll also help at community functions.
The pageant begins June 3 at 7 p.m. at Stanley Humprhies Secondary School.
Tickets are $10 and are available at the door.
Can’t make it to the pageant? Look for the 2011 Miss Castlegar in the Sunfest Parade the next morning.
