A pair of young Peninsula women are walking a little taller these days, after shining on stage at last week’s Miss BC pageant.
Patricia Celan and Sophie Cannon were among 38 contestants in the long-weekend competition, held in Fort Langley’s Chief Sepass Theatre.
On Canada Day, Celan was named Miss Charity BC, after raising the most (more than $8,000) of all the contestants for the pageant’s charitable cause, Cops for Cancer – a title that spurred her to have her head shaved.
“It really only made her more beautiful,” said Cannon, of Celan’s extreme trim, done on-stage that night. “The crown still looked just as good.”
Celan, 20, was not available to comment.
Cannon, 17, was a top-12 finalist in the pageant, which was her first crack at such events.
She participated in five private interviews to qualify; at the pageant itself, contestants were judged on such things as eye contact, stage presence, a dance number, sportswear, evening wear and a speech.
They also had to answer a question. Cannon was asked to tell about her craziest experience, for which she described facing her fear of heights on a rock-climbing excursion.
“I was scared, but I tried it all,” the Semiahmoo Secondary student told Peace Arch News.
Cannon, who volunteers at Semiahmoo House Society and dances at Mi-Cher Dance Academy, said the pageant experience sparked her interest in pursuing similar ventures, and “hopefully one day get a title.”