A Big Valley teen will be representing central Alberta this summer.
Tennille Day Chief has been crowned the national Canadian junior teen for central Alberta as part of the National Canadian Girl, Teen and Miss pageant.
Day Chief, who is 15, is competing in her second pageant this year after not making it through in the Miss Teen Canada pageant in March.
Her mom, Crystal, tells the Mail how Tennille participating in the pageant came about.
“She came to me one afternoon after seeing the Miss Teen Canada pageant and said, ‘mom could I enter this?’ I said yes but you only have about two weeks to get ready for it. So we pushed, and we drove, and she got ready for it. She competed but unfortunately she did not make it, so she saw this pageant and decided she wanted to try again. So she did, and this time she was crowned,” Crystal said.
For the National Canadian Girl, Teen and Miss pageant, Tennille is supporting Stollery Children’s hospital in Edmonton.
Tennille said to participate in a pageant like this, “makes me more confident and changes the way I feel about myself.”
The national competition will take place July 10-13 at the Sandman Signature Vancouver Airport Hotel.
Tennille said her age group, from 14-35, will be going to Vancouver for sightseeing and then will head to the Theatre Under the Stars performance of Hairspray on the Friday and the younger age group, from 0-13, will be going to the Vancouver aquarium on the Saturday.
This is not your average ‘beauty pageant’ Crystal said.
“It’s not about looks at all, it is mostly about getting out there and being involved in your community.”
The areas of competition that will be judged at the nationals for the age category that Tennille fits in will include: an interview/presentation of platform where contestants will have a one-on-one interview with the judges in a private room and present their platform, or cause/organization they have supported to the judges at that time, an introduction presented on stage, formal wear, where contestants can wear and model a dress of their choosing, and fashion wear where contestants can express themselves in any outfit they wish.
The Jr. Teen and Teen will choose from a list of TV commercials that they will have to present. They will also be judged on their pageant week participation. An optional category is the photogenic competition which will not go towards the overall score.
The cost for the national weekend is $395 for sponsorship/AD page/ scholarship fee plus $250 for a weekend activity fee.
Tennille said some local businesses in Stettler, including the Co-op sponsored her in order to participate in the competition. She also mentioned that some businesses in Lethbridge sponsored her as well.
To vote for Tennille visit http://www.nationalcanadiangirl.com/2015delegates.html
She is under the Junior Teen Miss category for Central Alberta. Votes cost $1 and half the money raised goes to the Children’s Hospital’s across Canada. Voting is open until July 7. The winner of people’s choice receives a crown and sceptor.
