Local teen Savannah Cipkar will be participating in the Miss Teen Canada pageant which is taking place between August 15 and 20 this year. Launched in 1969, Miss Teen Canada was the first competition of its kind anywhere in the country.

At that time, Miss Teen Canada began with a swimsuit competition. However, since 2004, this was eliminated as part of the event. The Miss Teen Canada pageant now aims to promote personality and attitude for young ladies between 14 and 19 years of age.

This week, the Kingsville Times had an opportunity to speak with Savannah about her impressions of the event and what she hopes to achieve through her participation.

Kingsville Times:
What are the goals of the Miss Teen Canada pageant?

Savannah Cipkar:
Miss Teen Canada looks for young ladies with brains, beauty, enthusiasm and energy. They look for someone who will impact the lives of others and make a difference in the world. They are looking for someone to be Canada’s ambassador for beauty and good will.

KT:
What does the pageant hope to teach or instill in the young ladies who want to become a part of it?

SC:
They want girls to have fun, travel the world, and learn a healthy balance of responsibility, social purpose and community involvement. They teach girls essentials to be strong leaders and examples in the community.

KT:
What is the schedule of the pageant?  When do competitions begin and when is Miss Teen Canada selected?

SC:
The pageant begins August 15th and goes to the 20th. The first day of arrival is a pajama party. The second day is dedicated to photo and video shoots for all of the girls. The third day is an activity day where the activities could be anything from going to the beach to touring a museum.

The fourth day is rehearsal. The fifth and final day is the pageant and when we find out who the new 2022 Miss Teen Canada will be. In between all of that, we learn how to interview for a job, how to walk and carry ourselves and a bit about public speaking.

KT:
What motivated you to pursue this goal?

SC:
What is motivating me to pursue this goal is that, with the title of Miss Teen Canada I will get many opportunities to showcase my platform and raise awareness for it. As well as knowing the girls moving on to nationals with me are very kind and have hearts like mine. It’s a great way to meet some great people!

KT:
What message do you want to promote through your participation in the pageant?

SC:
The message I will be promoting throughout the pageant is that I want people not to cast judgement on others but, rather, to help people in need and to try and understand how life may be difficult for others.

I plan to raise money for Miss Teen Canada’s Official Charity ”Make a Wish” and to help out in the community as much as I can. Most of my focus will be on funding and helping the hungry, the homeless, and others in need in our community.

KT:
What has been the most difficult part of participating in this pageant and what has been the most rewarding?

SC:
The most difficult part for me so far has been getting everything done in such a short amount of time. The most rewarding part for me is knowing that I am helping those in need by sharing my platform and volunteering to help around the community.

KT:
Savannah, what would you want Canadians to know about the pageant?

SC:
What I would like Canadians to know about the pageant is that it is such a great experience for a young woman like myself to learn and grow in such a short period of time.

When you think of pageants, you probably think of drama queens and needy girls, but in reality it is the total opposite. You learn about public speaking and interviews all while meeting the most amazing people and having the time of your life.

Photos provided by Tracey Cipkar

We would like to wish Savannah all the best in the Miss Teen Canada pageant this August!