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Brampton teen hoping for success at upcoming Miss Teen pageant
The Brampton Guardian
Wednesday June 25 2008
By Adrian Rohit Dass, Special to the Guardian
ZOEY McKENZIE
 
BRAMPTON - The annual Miss Teen Canada International Pageant will feature some local talent this year with Brampton's Zoey McKenzie.
McKenzie will be competing against other young women from all across Canada for the chance to win a huge scholarship ranging anywhere from $3,000 to $20,000.
"I'm really participating in the pageant because I think it would be a valuable experience," said McKenzie in an interview with The Guardian.
"I'm just really looking forward to representing Brampton in the pageant and showing them what our young ladies are about here."
The pageant will take place on Aug. 23 at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre.
It is one of the largest scholarship achievement programs in Canada for young women, and the only scholarship program of its kind.
It is completely different from other beauty pageants, as participants are not judged on how they look.
"We do not choose girls through a regional pageant system, we choose them through an interview process, said Sylvia Stark, president/CEO of Miss Teen Canada International.
"We don't judge girls by their height or their weight. We judge them on who they are as a person.”
Some of the categories participants are judged on include scholastic test scores, essay writing skills, public speaking skills, personality, intellect and their overall passion to help people.
"They truly have to have the passion and desire to go out there and help people and be a role model and ambassador for the youth of today," said Stark.
McKenzie is 17 and is in her final year at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School. She was recently nominated as valedictorian for her graduating class.
Once she finishes, she will be the only student to graduate with participation in the school's extended French and performing arts dance programs.
"She's definitely a representative of the typical Miss Teen from Canada,” said Bob Riddell, dance choreographer for the pageant and teacher at the school. "She seems to have a very sparkling personality, a great smile, and communicates very well. She definitely stands a good chance to be Miss Canada International."
This is not the first pageant McKenzie has participated in.
She also took part in the Miss Super Jamboree pageant last year and was first runner up.
"After the first pageant, I felt I had gained a lot from it," explained McKenzie. "It really helped to shape my character and that's the number one reason why I'm participating in this one. Just for the experience."
Pageant participants are required to obtain sponsorships from businesses in order to take part. Depending on the amount contributed, businesses can have their name advertised through the participant they sponsor.
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