My first Sponsor for this competition was Charlesglen Toyota!! On Tuesday and Wednesday of March 20^th and 21^st I was at Charlesglen Toyota’s showroom during their Red Tag days private sales event. I had an amazing time even though it was hard work.

I proudly sported my crown and sash and greeted and assisted customers as they came into the showroom. I had a great time meeting and mingling with over 150 people in just one day!!! I had a chance to chat with all of them and tell them about whom I was and my journey towards becoming Miss Teen Canada - World 2010!!! Many of them were very interested in everything that I was doing and were eager to listen to me talk about my experience, dreams and goals. All of them were very supporting and encouraging, it was amazing!! It was also good practice in my heel s; I was on my feet in my tallest stilettos for eight hours the first day and five hours the next!!!

 I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know all the staff at the shop. They were very welcoming and supportive of me. I was so grateful for having the opportunity to work with each and every one of them.

It was a very inspiring and uplifting experience to receive so much encouragement and support from such and abundance of people. Working with my wonderful sponsors from Charlesglen taught me to be business savvy and still have fun!!

I was also interviewed by the lovely Miss Natasha who asked me about myself and my experiences being Miss Teen North Calgary-World 2010. The interview was featured in the Charlesglen Toyota bulletin for everyone to enjoy. Even though Charlesglen Toyota is a big company they treated everyone that walked through their doors (including myself!!) as a part of their family!!

Thank you Charlesglen Toyota for being so encouraging and supportive in my journey to becoming Miss Teen Canada-World 2010!!!

For me one of the most exciting and personal parts of the Miss Teen Canada-World pageant is the opportunities that I am receiving to do work for my platform.

Creating awareness and counseling others about epilepsy is a platform that is very personal for me. A few years ago my family and I had come to learn through a series of scary and life changing events that my older brother had epilepsy, a condition where a person suffers from seizers that can be severe and last for life.

Going through this experience was very traumatizing and life changing but I would never have imagined at the time that anything positive could have come out of something that seemed to be nothing but a negative experience.

Even though the past has been challenging to say the least, it has shaped me into the person I have become today and I would never want to change that.

During these hardships my family and I pulled together and comforted each other creating a support system that will last a lifetime. We bonded, grew and became stronger as individuals and as a family. We learned to appreciate all that we were blessed with and focus on what was important, like each other. My family’s strength gave me hope that in time things would get better and that we still had a future and even though our life would change forever it did not mean that it would not change for the better.

That hope is exactly what I want to provide to other families that have been and are affected by epilepsy. I want to be a role model and example for those families to guide and counsel them through their struggles.

 I am pleased to say that I will be doing work with the Epilepsy Association of Calgary after the national pageant because that is when all there major events that they would like me to be present at are being held. Besides supporting the epilepsy association I have extended my platform and done work for the The Alberta Cancer Foundation, the Look Good Feel Better program as well as Water Can. Many of my family members and relatives have also endured Cancer and are impacted in different countries such as India (which is part of my ethnicity) by a lack of accessible clean water. I am very grateful that I was able to help and work for these causes and extend my platform to involve them.

I want to provide a support system for families that have endured hardships and are facing challenges just as my family has for me.

 My Older Brother Thomas and Me

My Little Brother Bryce and Me

On Saturday June 26^th I had the extreme pleasure of modeling at “Picture The Cure Art Auction & Fashion Show” The show was held in support of “ The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers” and all the proceeds went towards the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

Held at the chic and modern Gerry Thomas Gallery, the authentic and inspiring Art for auction included a variety of artwork from local and international photographers and artists.

Along with the Fashion show other entertainment was also provided for the guests in attendance. Magicians wowed the crowed and the belly dancers delivered a riveting and energizing performance.

I modeled three lovely outfits. My first was a daring yellow wrap dress with bold black designs. My last two outfits consisted of a black and white pattern skirt and blouse both with delicate lace detailing and my final outfit was a black and white cocktail dress.

The sponsors included Eleven Eleven Boutique, THE KEG, The Camera Store, RESOLUTION local art gallery, Gerry Thomas Gallery and FIELD STONE Fruit Wines.

Thanks to the sponsors who made the event possible the show was a terrific success with over 200 people that attended!! A generous amount of money was raised for the Alberta Cancer Foundation and everyone had a blast.

I had the chance to mingle with many different people and really enjoyed myself it was another fantastic experience!!!

 The Models and Myself

Free The Children has taken on the enormous challenge to overcome poverty, child labour and exploitation of children in developing countries by encouraging and empowering the youth in North America to take action and make a difference. However, Free The Children would not be able to conquer this challenge without the generous support and help from their corporate partners, especially Disney’s CLUB PENGUIN

Club Penguin became involved with Free The Children to give kids the chance to make the world a better place. With this goal in mind Club Penguin allows children the chance to have a global impact on poverty. With programs such as Coins for Change campaign, during which children around the world donated their virtual game earnings towards the less fortunate. Club Penguin raised $157,500 to build a health clinic in Kenya in their third annual campaign alone in partnership with Free The Children.

 Also because of the partnership between Club Penguin and Free The Children “Think We” was made possible. The speaking tour and leadership program is specifically designed for youth and is free of charge, thanks to the kindness and generosity of Club Penguin.

Because Club Penguin provides one of the largest and fastest‐growing virtual worlds for children, the more children that play the game the more children that are less fortunate will benefit from it. A portion of the proceeds from each membership supports organizations that are working to improve the lives of children and families around the world such as Free The Children. It is a “win win” situation for both Free The Children and Club Penguin both of whom want to make a difference in the world by empowering youth to do so. Free The Children and Club Penguin benefit from their partnership but so does the rest of the world!!

When youth support Club Penguin they are supporting efforts to improve the lives of children and families around the world. The partnership of Club Penguin and Free The Children encourages youth and children to be the change and make the world a better place!!

Up and coming actor and former model Annisha Plesche gives a smart and witty performance as she portrays Nalini on the new TV series “One In A Million”. The show follows the tests and trials and hilarious mishaps of Nalini, a famous model that can't seem to get rid of her label and shed the image that she is just another pretty face. Through out the series she proves that brains and beauty do go hand in hand, but can she prove it at the right time and the right place?

Constant mishaps and hilarious happenings always seem to get in the way of things!! But with perseverance and persistence she may finally break free from her not so glamorous life, that is, if she has a little help. Her unique and colorful but supportive family can always be depended on to get her out of sticky situations but sometimes into even stickier ones!! Nalini’s family always tries to use their sense of humor to steer her through life.

 We follow her on her journey, to create a new image, much like a roller coaster, with ups and downs but the ride always ends in laughter.

  The series speaks to people of all different ethnicities, age groups and gender. We learn from Nalini that it is never too late to peruse what you want and set out goals and ambitions. Following Nalini's story we see that even when we are labeled or a stereotype is enforced on us, nothing can stop us from being what and who we want to be in life. The show portrays a strong and powerful message but still delivers non-stop laughs and always puts a smile on your face!!

Faze Media, FRANK ideas and Execution and SMOJOE know that your image can be everything. But through businesses such as theirs you can trust that Faze Media is the spotlight to be in if, like Nalini, you are trying to become a new you and let the whole world know. FRANK Ideas and Execution as well as SMOJOE know the right kind of advertising, marketing and social networking to get you on  track (whether you’re a model or not) to becoming who you want to be. Faze Media, FRANK ideas and Execution and SMOJOE (funders of the series) all know what it takes to create an image just like Nalini.

Annisha Plesche says that the series is definitely one you don’t want to miss if you’re looking for life lessons to learn, stories to inspire you and laughter all in one!!!

Special Thanks To Our Funders,

Diversity, excitement and fun, that’s what the magnificent city of Calgary has to offer and much more!! Being born and raised in Calgary I am so grateful and excited to be given this opportunity to represent my city as Miss Teen North Calgary!! This is the heart of the New West and only here can you find our unique warm Western hospitality. Calgary is a multicultural city rich with its diverse cultures, where people from all walks of life can feel at home.

One of our landmarks, The Calgary Tower, is among one of our more popular attractions standing 525 feet tall in the heart of downtown Calgary. The view from the glass floor observation deck is incredible as it overlooks the city. This landmark holds great memories for me as I have celebrated a few of my birthdays at the classy revolving restaurant on top. The tower is surrounded by many offices and malls and in one of them resides one of my sponsors Diva Hair Saloon and Spa. The Calgary Tower is only a small taste of what the city has to offer.

As a child and even now Heritage Park has always been a place to experience “How The West Once Was”. Having been to the park on numerous occasions such as, school field trips and family weekend outings, Heritage Park never ceases to amaze me. My favorite memories there are with my family indulging in sweet treats at the very popular candy shop and shopping for unique antiques and gifts during Christmas time. We still have many of those gifts and they have now become timeless, one of a kind piece that always brings back great memories for my family and myself. The historical village features an antique midway, a fully functional steam train engine and friendly pioneers. With over 200 historical exhibits you truly feel like your back in time in the Old West. Although the park features lifestyle, customs and traditions from the past, one thing still remains very much in the present, warm Western hospitality that can be found pretty much everywhere in Calgary especially at Charlesglen Toyota (who also graciously sponsored me) where they are known for their outstanding customer service.

Calgary is also home to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, The Calgary Stampede!!! The Stampede is a ten-day world-renowned event that supports and promotes Western Heritage and values. Some of my favorite times have been enjoying the rodeo, rides and red candy apples during the day and then watching the spectacular fireworks at night, all in the company of my family and friends!! It features the world’s largest rodeo, a parade, midway, agricultural competitions, concerts, chuck wagon races and first nations heritage. There is never a quite moment!! Events are held across the city in celebration of stampede such as free pancake breakfasts and lunches which I enjoyed attending with my friends on a field trip in elementary school. With over one million people attending the event every year it is definitely something you don’t want to miss!!

 Calgary will quench your thirst for rich cultural heritage and their hospitality will welcome you with wide-open arms. With an abundance of amazing attractions each of them unique and unforgettable you will never want to leave. I hope that one day you can experience Calgary like I have all my life and create amazing memories to call your own.

 The Calgary Tower

  The Stampede

    Heritage Park Steam Engine

Through out my journey as Miss Teen North Calgary I have enjoyed and learned from many new experiences. I have learned how to market and promote myself as well as become more involved with my community. The past few months have helped me to grow and develop, while learning life skills.

Everyone who is apart of the Miss Teen Canada World pageant has been extremely supportive and encouraging. They are always providing us with the best support system to guide us in every step of the way.

For example, a few weeks ago I had finished all the required work for my bio on the official Miss Teen Canada World website that is to launch very soon. Even though everything was complete ahead of schedule I was still having difficulty cropping my picture correctly. I tried to crop it many times but it was still not right. Thankfully I had the help of a wonderful creative agency in Toronto. Cora at FRANK Ideas and Execution was very helpful and solved the problem quickly They put together a solution using some new online tools that made it very easy.

They provided myself and many of the other contestants with lots of tips and help, but the best advice was to send us to an image resizing website called www.resizeyourimage.com that we could easily upload our photo to, zoom in and crop to the required specifications. 

It was fast, easy and fun and I did not need any special tools or software on my computer. If I could figure this out, you could too. Go ahead, give it a try! 

Don't forget to check out my photo and profile at the Miss Teen Canada World website, sign up to become a VIP and please vote for me in July."

Thank You Miss Teen Canada World and FRANK Ideas and Execution for being so supportive and helpful!!

          My Picture for the Website

It’s a women’s world!! Or at least that’s what it felt like at the annual Calgary Women’s Show. I had a fantastic time helping Diva Salon and Spa at their booth greeting over 500 people in just the first day!! I handed out free samples and hand lotion as well as chatted with everyone at the show. It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves and having such a great time.

 I had the pleasure of meeting so many creative and inspiring people who were selling their products at the show. The enterprising Jonathan Torch who invented the product Curley Hair Solutions was among them.

My mom and I even treated ourselves to beautiful bracelets from Beadelicious. I loved the bracelets because my mom and I customized our own so they represented our personalities!!

I had such a great time with all the fantastic ladies from the Diva Salon and Spa. There was so much to see, do and taste at the show, from hair and makeup to delicious food and amazing products designed and invented by some very talented people!!!

The show also featured fabulous fashion shows presented by Mode Models that showcased the fashions from many talented designers from across Canada as well as the United States.

Because I sported my crown and sash many people were very interested in what I was doing. It was fun to explain to them all about my pageant experiences and my future goals and ambitions.

My experience working with the Diva Saloon and Spa team was made extremely enjoyable by each and everyone of the wonderful ladies I had the pleasure of meeting. They have been so supportive of me in my Journey to becoming Miss Teen Canada-World 2010. Thank you Dive Saloon and Spa for sponsoring me and providing for me such an enjoyable and memorable experience at the Calgary Women’s Show!!!

   Jonathan Torch and myself

On Thursday April 29th I had the extreme pleasure of hosting the FunnyFest Calgarys Comedy Festival. The show featured several hilarious comedians who put a smile on everyone’s face!!! I wore my sash and crown and gave an opening speech at the festival officially kicking off FunnyFest this year and celebrating with them their 10^th anniversary.

It was great to work with and meet Stu Hughes, who is the director and founder of FunnyFest. This is an amazing organization that shares the gift of laughter with everyone!! Throughout the year FunnyFest donates tickets to charities and non-profit organizations. They are always giving back to the community.

 The show, which ran April 29 through May 9, presented over 11000 punchlines, 11 days and nights of comedy, 70 performers, 30 shows and 20 themes!!!

 It was awesome to get the chance to meet and work with the amazing and dedicated volunteers who give there time to make this non-profit organization possible. Stu Hughes built FunnyFest in an effort to share something that everyone loves… Laughter!!! FunnyFest believes that helping and contributing to the community are essential to creating a caring, vibrant and diverse society. Laughter is one of Gods greatest gifts, but unfortunately it is often taken for granted. FunnyFest allows you to truly enjoy, appreciate and embrace that gift.

I was so grateful to have had the chance to be apart of such a wonderful event that gives back to the community.

Thank You FunnyFest for allowing me to help in sharing the gift of laughter!!!

   One of the comedian's and myself!!

   Lauren and me!!

On April 22, 2010 myself and three other Alberta title holders participated in the  Walk For Water with Aveda Institute to raise money for WaterCan. We arrived bright and early on Thursday morning at 8:00 am at Eau Claire Market in downtown Calgary. Everyone put in a terrific effort to raise money for WaterCan. The crowd was very eager to start walking, but not before we did a group stretch!! There was a great vibe and energy from the very excited crowd.

 Even though it was a little bit chilly outside because of the wind, the clean morning spring air was refreshing and woke us up!! (Luckily my mom gave me her jacket!!). As a group we all enjoyed a very scenic walk around the beautiful Princess Island Park, taking in all the sights and sounds of downtown early in the morning.

After our hour-long walk, we gathered together briefly for a couple of group photos and chatted among each other.

When the walk was done the girls and I grabbed a quick bite to eat with my mom and then headed down to Kensington, one of my favorite places in downtown Calgary, where we had a great time chatting over coffee at Starbucks and indulged in delicious Crave Cupcakes. It was my first time having Crave Cupcakes and they were delicious!! I had the Dark Angel cupcake with butter cream icing, yummy!! Crave Cupcakes was also involved with Earth Month and the money they raised went directly to Green Calgary.

We then proceeded to catch the C-train to Dalhousie Station where we went dress shopping for the pageant!! It was a lot of fun to try and find that perfect dress!!

I was so happy to participate in the Walk for Water with Aveda, even though it was only a small part of what they had planned for Earth Month 2010. With everyones kindness, caring and generosity, together they exceded their goal of $3.5 million for global and local clean water projects!!

The day was filled with excitement, laughter and ended with great memories!!

 Thanks girls for being so much fun!!

             Group Photo After The Walk!!