When she moved to White Rock from Prince George a few years ago, Jessica Maughan immediately set out to connect with Job’s Daughters in her new city.
“The first thing I said to my parents was, ‘please find me a bethel to join down here,”’ she laughed. “We found Bethel 48 in White Rock and it’s been so great ever since.”
The recently crowned Miss BC Job’s Daughter has been involved in the Masonic-sponsored youth development organization since she moved to Canada from Zimbabwe when she was 10.
Now, with her 18th birthday looming in August, Maughan can cross one of her longtime goals off the list.
“Three years ago I made it my goal to earn the title of Miss BC,” she said. “It took a lot of preparation, but I did it.”
With the help of her coach, former Job’s Daughter Brenda Sewell, and 600 studying cards, Maughan was crowned in March.
Receiving the title is the icing on the cake for the South Surrey teen, who credits her membership with Job’s Daughters for the confidence and determination that got her to where she is today.
“You learn how to be a leader and how to speak publicly. I don’t think I could ever have spoken to someone before like I do now. I used to be so shy. But you gain that confidence,” she said. “It’s really impressive how it brings everything out in you.”
During the competition, participants had to show off their knowledge of Job’s Daughters, including the organization’s constitution, rules and regulations, rituals of the order and ceremonies.
Now, Maughan will boost up her studying for the international pageant, to be held in July in California. With a goal of placing in the top 10, Maughan has been adding more cue cards to her stack.
“This time around, we have to go into depth with the world-wide constitution,” she said. “There is a lot of information to study. I have to broaden my horizons.”
As Miss BC, Maughan must also carry out her duties as the province’s Job’s Daughter’s representative, including visiting a number of bethels locally and in the United States.
All the while, Maughan, who is in her final year of school at St. Patrick’s Regional School in Vancouver, must balance her social life and education.
Following her year-long reign as Miss BC, Maughan plans to go to school for sign-language interpretation, and eventually plans on working towards becoming a wedding and event planner.
“You have to have a good grasp on it all. It’s a lot of work, but it’s absolutely worth it. I’ve got a good foundation now,” she said. “(Job’s Daughters) is a great representation of youth in our community. You learn to be a great young woman.”