You do not have to fit societal body expectations to run for Miss BC.
This year, 10 women from the Okanagan, Kootenay’s and Northern B.C. will be competing at the inclusive Miss BC Pageant this weekend in Fort Langley.
Organizers say this pageant is unique because its focus is on development of women, not weight restrictions, age, marital status or gender.
"The Miss BC Pageant celebrates all women, and yes, we would welcome transgender contestants," said organizer Darren Storsley, Mr. World Canada 2007.
During the summer of 2016 contestants from all across B.C. will compete for the Miss, Mrs., and Miss Teen BC titles.
“These women represent all that is beautiful in our province; there is no height or weight requirement,” writes the event organizers. “Throughout the weekend the women will be trained in various genres to face the panel of judges, receiving crucial life-skills training pertinent to young women.”
The competitors attend rehearsals for the grand-finale showcase, and participate in a large-scale group fundraiser for the pageant's chosen charity 'Cops for Cancer'. The pageant wraps up with a competition and the crowning of the winners on the final night.
Clarissa Palek, Danielle Beattie and Marie Stormy Hasenohrl will be competing against 25 other contestants for the Miss title.
In 2014, Palek, from Christina Lake, participated in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Head Start for Young Woman Pilot Program and is very involved within her community.
Hasenohrl, from Prince George, was born in a cabin and raised in a small community. She says she hopes to help stop negative stereotypes of aboriginals.
Bella Konschuh-Penney, Daria Le Bleu, Rainah Burgess and Frances Oliver are competing against 13 other contestants for the Teen title.
Konschuh-Penney was born and raised in Westbank.
“I’ve entered the Miss Teen BC pageant to show all young women that beauty isn’t the outward appearance, but more so the inner person. No matter your looks or background, all women are beautiful and once we have found our inner beauty our outward beauty will shine,” said Konschuh-Penney.
Oliver’s mother is chronically ill and she hopes to create easily-accessible assistance for families during times of crisis.
Linda Cucek, Sabrina Ross and Sarah Opdendries will be competing against five other contestants for the Mrs. title.
Organizers say Cucek, from Mission, is an advocate for autistic children and was largely responsible for making sure the B.C. government diagnoses children at an earlier age.
She has appeared in many newspaper articles and on TV, insisting that government should pay for behavioural therapy that most families cannot afford.
Leading up to the final pageant, all contestants receive professional training in areas such as public speaking, interview skills, media relations, modelling, manners, etiquette, leadership, self-esteem, health, fitness, nutrition, assertiveness, motivational speaking and self-defence.
The public is invited to log on and vote for their favourite contestant for the People’s Choice award at www.missbc.ca.
The charity recipient for the Miss BC Pageant is the Cops for Cancer Tour of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Since 2007, the contest has raised more than $259,000 for the cause.