by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Payton Rochon was crowned first runner-up at the 2015 Miss Teen Ontario East Pageant held in Renfrew Sunday evening.
The 15-year-old Opeongo student is the daughter of Penny and Yves Rochon.
“I was super excited,” Payton said Tuesday evening.
She said when she the second runner-up was announced, her adrenaline began runing.
“When they called my name, I was like, whoaaaaaaaa,” Payton said. “I was really, really happy.”
Payton was also happy when Kathleen Barr of Douglas was crowned Miss Teen Ontario East 2015.
“I’m happy to share the title with my best friend,” she said.
And one other thing to mention about the crowning .. it was Kathleen’s sister Jill who crowned Payton, because she was first runner-up last year.
While there were the usual competitions for the pageant, including evening gown, interview and photos, Payton said it was also an opportunity to learn new things.
“The pageant inspires you to learn about other people,” she said. “I learned a lot about cancer.
Penny Rochon, Payton’s mom, admits she was reluctant to allow her 15-year-old daughter to enter a pageant.
However, after Payton explained to her the cause behind the pageant, and knowing her family recently went through a family tragedy due to cancer, it made it easier to say yes.
There were 19 delegates vying for the top three positions as well as various awards. Along with being first runner-up, Payton received the Most Photogenic and the Interview awards.
The girls, ranging in age from 15 to 18, gathered on Thursday and did a variety of things over the next four days geared to the pageant.
They went to Valu-Village in Pembroke and with $20 had to purchase an outfit for the Diva on a Dime competition. Payton spent half the money purchasing a floppy hat and a red dress.
In the talent competition, of which Payton placed in the top three, she wrote about OHL player Donald Sanderson who suffered a concussion during a game, went into a coma, had surgery and died. She could relate to the incident due to a sporting injury she suffered — a concussion — and because of that injury, lost most of her hearing.
The moral of the story is the importance and awareness for people to wear safety helmets.
In the impromptu question, Payton was asked with so many teenage models in the world, who would you consider to be your role model. Her answer — her fellow delegates, and she gave an explanation why.
Listening to her daughter while in the audience, Ms. Rochon said she was surprised at all that she had learned in such a short time.
“The pageant wasn’t all bows and frou-frou,” she said. “It was a good learning experience. It was a fun way for the girls to meet each other.”
She recalled telling Payton to use this year as a learning experience and next year she could go for the crown.
That night, sittig in the audience, Ms. Rochon recalled, “I was a bundle of nerves. I could never be a hockey mom.
“I was shocked (when Payton was first runner-up).”
Mr. Rochon said when Payton won two awards back to back, and that she was in the top three in talent, he suspected his daughter hd a chance at the top three.
Competing in an age range of 15 to 18, he expected that in a competition of this calibre, it would be the older girls who would come out on top.
“I told Payton to go and have fun,” he said. “You can go back when you’re older and win.”
With tears streaming down her face, and in a choked voice, Ms. Rochon said, “I’m so proud of her. She has gone through so many challenges because of her hearing. I almost feel like her childhood was robbed because she couldn’t do so much that’s normal.
“This is so overwhelming,” Ms. Rochon continued. “She achieved something in the last minute of deciding she wanted to compete.”
When people look at Payton, they don’t see her disability, Ms. Rochon said.
“She carries herself so well,” she added. “None of us can know how difficult it is for her.”
However, she does admit, her daughter is a very personable person and carries herself well in all situations.
Looking to the next year, Payton said she’s looking forward to participating in various events as first runner-up.
She’s also looking forward to next year’s pageant, where she can help the delegates and also present the crown to the next first runner-up.
Tierney Cartman of Cobden also participated in the Miss Teen Ontario Pageant. While she didn’t place in the top three, she can be proud of her accomplishment.
She is the 17-year-old daughter of Chantelle and Dave Cartman and is in Grade 12 at Opeongo High School.
The other delegates were Kathleen Barr (Miss Teen Ontario East) Madi Bellisle, Taryn Cameron, Abby Delarge, Rachelle Fortier, Cricket Guest, Denica Joseph, Bridget Luckovitch, Kaitlin McMillan (second runner-up), Haley Pouget, Cassidy Resmer, Hunter Robson, Daphnie Rose, Riley-Ann Schmidt, Annie Underhill, Tori Voldock and Payton Ziebarth.
Line Rheault was the judge liaison and the judges were Angelique MacDonald, Jocelyn Lamont, Maureen Fenn, Brenda Stanley, Justin Phillips, Craig Dunbar, Delaney Holley and Francesca McFadden.
