by CONNIE TABERT
Editor
FORESTERS FALLS / BEACHBURG — Megan King returned home with a title, an opportunity of a lifetime and an award.
Aleisha Ciphery returned home with memories she never thought she’d have and new friends.
Both teenagers live in Whitewater Region and were participants in the recent Miss Teen Ontario East competition held recently at the Ma-te-way Centre in Renfrew.
This was Aleisha’s first time competing in the event, while it’s the second year for Megan.
They both said they decided to participate because friends had done so in the past and had a good time.
The event begins Thursday night with a meet and greet for the judges and participants and ends Sunday night with the competition, including the crowning.
When the weekend was done, Megan was crowned First Runner Up and received awards for Top Model and Evening Dress. Last year she returned home with the Fashion Award.
Miss Teen Ontario East is Danika Jenkins from Orleans and second runner-up is Alexa Gamache from Douglas.
Aleisha returned home from a weekend of making memories and several new friends, as did Megan.
“We did a lot of stuff,” Aleisha said.
Thursday evening, they gathered in one of four villas at Logos Land and were up bright and early Friday to help out at the Relay for Life pancake breakfast fundraiser. Then, it was off to Value Village in Pembroke to shop for an outfit for the fashion show. They each were given $20 to spend.
Aleisha purchased a dress and necklace while Megan bought a red, button-down skirt and black lace top.
On Saturday, they participated in a scavenger hunt around Renfrew. The girls were split into groups of four plus a chaperon, and hunted throughout Renfrew with clues to find their item. Once each team found it, they had to take a selfie with it.
There was also the talent show on Saturday, which was an optional event. Aleisha did a hip-hop dance.
“I think the judges liked it,” she said.
Megan did not participate, saying, “I didn’t have anything I could showcase in three minutes.”
There was also a dinner Saturday evening with the judges.
Throughout the weekend, there were also rehearsals for the various dance numbers the competitors had to participate in, including the Canada 150 Illusion. Explaining it, Aleisha said each girl was dressed half in white and half in red and they learned a dance which created an illusion.
Sunday was the big day, Aleisha said.
She was the first one ready with hair and makeup, so she was the first one to be interviewed by the judges, which took about 20 minutes.
“It’s an opportunity to talk about ourselves, how we would promote the charity the pageant sponsors and our career choices,” she said.
The pageant’s charity is Candlelighters, which promotes awareness of childhood cancer.
The evening’s event included all the dances the girls learned, including a tribute to childhood cancer survivors, strutting the walkway with their Value Village outfits, the evening wear walk and finally the crowning.
Aleisha noted her evening gown was red on the bottom with flowers on a nude background for the top. She explained that each participant walked the runway on their own and then they all walked as a group.
Each participant was asked an impromptu question. Aleisha’s question was to describe her hometown. While she lives close to Beachburg and attended Cobden District Public School, she chose Pembroke because that is where she goes to school as a grade 11 student at Fellowes High School and works.
“I only had 10 seconds to think of an answer,” she said.
Questions the other participants had to answer included What is beauty to you; What is most important in friendship; and How would you say the pageant influenced you?
Awards were presented and past title-holders spoke about their past year and then the crowning occurred.
Megan won the award she hoped for, which was the Top Model Award. She now goes to Toronto in July to participate in the Top Model Search of Canada. She also won the Evening Gown award.
However, one of the most joyful moments was when she was crowned First Runner-up.
Since this was Megan’s second time participating, she feels what she learned last year helped her do much better this year. She participated last year because friends Kathleen Barr and Payton Rochon, who were crowned in the past, encouraged her to do it.
“The second time I was a lot less nervous,” Megan said, adding, “I coached the other girls. I told them some of the things judges are looking for.”
For herself, Megan spoke clearer and had more confidence.
Her evening gown was a baby-blue mermaid style with ribbon ruffles on the bottom.
“All the girls did well who won,” she said.
She was hoping for the top model award and she was presented with it, as this time around she had experience in walking and being photographed.
“The dress suited me and my personality,” she said. “I walked with confidence and I owned it.”
Her impromptu question was What does charity mean to you.
The evening’s event lasted about three-and-a-half hours, but it was a weekend not to be forgotten, Megan said.
She noted since she won a title she cannot participate again, but would if she could.
However, next year she does get to participate in the opening dance with the girls, present various awards and pass on her crown.
She will also participate in various fundraisers and promotions for Candlelighters, which is for Childhood Cancer Suvivors.
Aleisha and Megan both agree this pageant is not about how pretty a person is.
“It’s not about the outside,” Megan said. “It’s about who you are and what you believe in, building confidence and how you can help to change your community.”
Aleisha admitted she was leery about entering the pageant thinking it was “just a bunch of pretty stuff and skinny girls.”
But, after participating, she believes every girl should go in it at least once.
“I was really bad at conversation and talking openly with others,” she said. “That improved a bit and I can now carry on a conversation.”
There was so much fun and a lot of hard work, Aleisha said. She is a Grade 11 student at Fellowes High School in Pembroke and daughter of Phil and Amie Ciphery.
She tried it because friends encouraged her and now she’s going to encourage others.
“It was an amazing experience,” she said. “Try it – see what happens!”
Megan is a Grade 11 student at Bishop Smith Catholic High School in Pembroke and the daughter of Emily Cavanaugh and Mike Paige and granddaughter of Alisa Paige in Forester Falls.
“It’s a great experience,” she said. “It changes a girl for the better. It’s not just about putting on heels and smiling.”
Megan encourages any girl between the ages of 14 to 18 to participate in the pageant that will change her life.
