Olivia Dunseith was looking for a way to improve her self confidence, and when she walked off a stage in Surrey earlier this month as Miss Teen Vancouver Island, it was clear she had found it.

B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 really believe it at first, I was a little bit in shock and I was so excited,B次元官网网址� said the 16-year-old Lambrick Park student.

Dunseith was among the dozens of contestants to take part in the that crowned a Miss BC, Miss Teen BC and Mrs. BC over the Canada Day weekend. It was the first pageant Dunseith has ever taken part in.

B次元官网网址淚 read about the values and workshops and I wanted to improve my public speaking and self confidence and I thought this would be a really good way to do it. And it was.B次元官网网址�

The competition allowed Dunseith to take part in numerous workshops on public speaking, which helped to calm her nerves but didnB次元官网网址檛 get rid of all the butterflies once she got up on stage.

B次元官网网址淚t was [nerve wracking] but we had done so much practice I wasnB次元官网网址檛 as nervous on the final time,B次元官网网址� said Dunseith, who plans to eventually go on to law school.

She didnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate when asked what was the toughest part of preparing for the competition.

B次元官网网址淚 had to learn to walk in heels,B次元官网网址� she said, adding her main objective was not to fall on stage. B次元官网网址淚 was just trying to remember to smile in front of everyone, and I didnB次元官网网址檛 want to trip. That was my biggest thing.B次元官网网址�

She succeeded on both counts, and said the pageant was a great experience.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e definitely gained a lot more self confidence and IB次元官网网址檓 not afraid to speak in front of people now. And IB次元官网网址檝e made so many great friends,B次元官网网址� said Dunseith, who doesnB次元官网网址檛 think of as a beauty pageant. B次元官网网址淚t was like a self-development pageant.

editor@saanichnews.com