Strathmore teen to compete in Miss Teen Canada-World
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
Most little girls dream of one day being a princess, wearing a tiara and beautiful gowns. For one Strathmore teen, it is like a dream come true. Shelbi Ramsay, 15, took part in the Miss Teen Alberta-World pageant in Calgary on February 20. Ramsay took the crown and title of Miss Teen Wheatland County-World, representing Strathmore and Wheatland County. Ramsay was chosen as one of the 18 titleholders out of nearly 50 contestants to participate in the Miss Teen Canada-World competition in Toronto in July, which is the preliminary for Miss Teen World.
“Of almost 50 contestants they picked 18 that they crowned who will go to the national pageant in Toronto in July, each one of the 18 represents her community,” said Cindy Ramsay, Shelbi’s mom and one of her biggest supporters.
Their hair dresser had done make-up and hair for Miss Teen Canada, and after hearing Cindy mention that Shelbi wanted to get involved in pageants, she recommended this one to her.
It was thanks to a television show that Shelbi first began thinking about competing in pageants.
“From watching Toddlers and Tiaras, and it was just different. I like modeling and stuff and I’d never really done something like that before,” said Shelbi.
After filling out the application to take part in the pageant, there is an audition. The applicants are interviewed on Skype, where the girls are selected by who is ready to attend the pageant. They had to wear an evening gown and bathing suit, but there was not a talent portion in the Alberta competition. There will be a talent portion in the Canada competition, but it’s not mandatory. Shelbi plans to showcase her talent of singing.
“It’s not an actual beauty competition like it used to be. They are judged on overall. So you don’t have to weight 95lbs, there were girls of all shapes and sizes there this year which I thought was really great,” said Cindy.
“It’s just about how you present yourself and who you are inside. The motto is, ‘be your own kind of beautiful’,” said Shelbi.
They will be in Toronto for eight days, which are preparation days. They will also have a chance to see some of the sights, after rehearsals.
The talent show is a different day than the actual pageant. The top three will perform at the pageant. There is also an opportunity to fast track. If a girl is top in talent, or the most photogenic then they she be fast tracked, which means she will move up into the top 20. There are a number of ways to fast track. The pageant officials would also like the girls to raise a minimum of $400 for the Free the Children charity. If Shelbi is one of the top fundraisers she will get to go to where Free the Children is and help out first hand.
Right now she is planning to do a bake sale fundraiser and possibly freezie sales, at her school to help raise money for the charity. Melissa David of Quality Dog Grooming set up a Shelbi-Rae Ramsey fundraising day May 29, and all of the proceeds from that day will go to Shelbi’s pageant efforts.
“As far as preparing, she’ll just have to polish up her song that she’s going to be doing and practice her walk,” said Cindy.
Her platform for the pageant is about teen drug and alcohol abuse. She would like to promote non-alcohol, non-drug parties to help teens realize they can have fun and not be under the influence
Her slogan is, ‘say nope to dope.’
Shelbi can also be seen at Strathmore’s first pet expo coming up on April 30. To help Shelbi with sponsorship towards her expenses or by donating to the charities above, she can be followed and contacted on Facebook at Shelbi Ramsay – Miss Teen Wheatland County,by e-mail misteenwheatlandcounty@hotmail.com, or by calling (403) 901-2409.