Regional royalty seeks national title

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Fortuitously, when Strathmore hosted Alberta’s very first girls’ pageant four years ago, Avery Biswanger – the local beauty queen who was recently crowned regional royalty for Central Alberta – was born into the world. But what the four-year-old lacks in size, she makes up in confidence and her larger-than-life personality.
Coincidentally, those key traits paved the way to her recent title, that’s providing the youngster with an opportunity to compete in the National Canadian Girl Teen and Miss Scholarship pageant in July.
The pageant, which prides itself on being completely natural and focuses on its contestants’ self-esteem, personality, and public speaking, will reward 10 girls with up to $10,000 in scholar-ship money – financial support that would inch Avery closer to her current aspirations of becoming a veterinarian.
However, to represent the region in Vancouver, Avery is reaching out to the community for donations to cover the $525 participation fees, whch does not include additional travel and accommodation costs.
“You think of Toddlers & Tiaras and spray paint, but we’ve never done that to her,” said Sarah Biswanger, Avery’s mother. “They get dressed up and have nice hair, but when they do their public speaking … they all have the same T-shirt and white pants. It’s just focused on them and not what they’re wearing. This one focuses on growth and public speaking and everything else, as well as helping out.”
While Avery has already competed in nearly 10 pageants since she started participating one-and-a-half years ago, the national event with its fast-approaching deadline is accompanied with its own set of challenges.
According to Megan McKinnon, the current International Junior Miss Teen and Avery’s pageant coach, training for the weekend-long event will require more preparation than was previously necessary.
As Avery will be four years old at the time of the pageant, she will be required to give an introduction and an interview. Upon making it into the Top 15, she would also have to participate in an on-stage question.
“I actually just recently started coaching her … and she managed to actually win the very first pageant she went to for National Canadian Girl,” said McKinnon, owner of Megasupreme Team. “She has an amazing personality. Having only had one or two coaching sessions with her and having her go and win, made me really proud as a coach.”
Along with an estimated 100 girls from across Canada, the contestants in the four/five-year-old category will be expected to answer age-appropriate questions.
Liz McKinnon, national director of National Canadian Girl Teen and Miss Pageant, said expectations at this age are low, but judges will focus on whether the girls can speak fluently, show personality during their beauty or casual walk, and whether eye contact is established.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re in a $20 dress from Target or if they’re in a $200 dress from a bridal shop, we’re just looking for are they well put together,” said McKinnon. “We have so many success stories of girls who have been bullied and they do this and find this whole new group of friends. The girls just click together really well.”
Until the reigning National Canadian Toddler Miss Central Alberta makes her way to British Columbia, her new responsibilities include three local appearances and some volunteer work. According to Biswanger, fundraising efforts and volunteer hours are currently geared towards the Alberta Children’s Hospital. A cause, Biswanger said, teaches her daughter about the hardships other children her age are faced with.
To sponsor Avery for the title of Tiny Miss National Canadian Girl, she has an online campaign on legup.ca under Getting Avery to the National Canadian Girl Pageant.