Langley is ready to host the province once again in the annual Miss BC, Teen BC and Mrs. BC Pageant on Sunday, July 5.

Current Miss Teen BC, Langley resident Brette Joyal, hopes to crown a Langley contestant and keep the crown local at this year’s Miss BC, Teen BC and Mrs. BC Pageant.

Langley has the highest record for producing a winner in the pageant’s 13-year history.

The public is invited to vote for their favourite contestant for the People’s Choice award at www.missbc.ca.

The Miss BC Talent and presentation night is July 3 at 6 p.m. at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort Langley.

The crowning of Miss, Miss Teen, and Mrs. BC is July 5, at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available at the door.

For the pageant, there is not a maximum age limit to participate, nor are there height and weight requirements. Also, among the contestants are women who are single parents.

This year’s Langley contestants include Emily Mierzejewski, Shalom Reimer, Mercedes Takacs, and Alexandryia LaRose.

Takacs, who is running in the Mrs. BC category, hopes to win the crown in order to bring awareness to human trafficking and bullying. She started a campaign called, “I am Enough,” which tackles the negative and harmful attacks on women’s self worth from various media sources.

The Miss BC, Teen BC and Mrs. BC Pageant prides itself in its recognition of diversity amongst women, and acceptance for the transgendered community, noted creator and producer Darren Storsley, adding that this event is quite unique in relation to the pageant world because of its focus on development for women, not weight restrictions or gender.

“The Miss BC Pageant celebrates all women, and yes, we would welcome transgendered contestants,” said Storsley, who himself was Mr. World Canada 2007.

The pageant acts as a developmental program for young women and even has a category for married women, the Mrs. BC Pageant.

“I see no reason why marriage should end someone’s pageant opportunities,” Storsley said.

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 and motivational speaking, and even self-defence.

“These skills will help all the contestants, whether or not they are chosen as the new Miss, Miss Teen or Mrs. BC,” Storsley said. “The next Miss BC, Miss Teen BC and Mrs. BC will attend various functions across the province and need to possess the skills these workshops offer; however, these are skills that are important in any environment.”

Storsley noted, “this is not a beauty pageant. It will be a well-rounded, intelligent, outgoing and well-spoken young lady who will win the crown, not necessarily the most beautiful girl.”

The contestants compete in a private judge’s interview, an on-stage interview, a sportswear presentation, an evening gown presentation, and a sponsor costume introduction.

The contestants are also required to participate in charity fundraising.

The charity for the Miss BC Pageant is the Cops for Cancer Tour of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Since 2007, the Miss BC Pageant has raised over $225,000,00 for Cops for Cancer Tour.

Storsley explains that the best part of the whole program is the support they can provide for kids who have cancer. “It is very emotional when the contestants meet these children they have been fundraising for…This is all about reaching out to the community and this pageant is an excellent example of this.”

Over the last 12 years, many contestants and winners of the Miss, Mrs. and Miss Teen BC title have gone on to make a difference by bringing social issues, such as human trafficking and bullying to the Province’s attention.

Tara Teng of Langley, Miss BC 2010, used her title to create awareness around the issue of Human Trafficking. She met with the Prime Minister to discuss Canada’s role in this and has since travelled the world making presentations to different government agencies and set up events worldwide to create awareness. While other previous winners have continued with their fundraising efforts and have broadened their social awareness.

Storsley is proud of the road this Pageant has travelled and the paths it has crossed. “In the end, it is about giving back, reaching out, creating leaders and providing a venue for women to take leadership roles across BC.”

Langley Advance