Miss Canada Plus Pageant

2008 Queen Event Photos

Thursday August 7th 2008 Miss Teen Canada Globe- Pre-judging!!

It was my pleasure to help conduct the interview portion of pre-judging the candidates for the 2008 Miss Teen Canada Globe Pageant. Each and every girl proved to have a spark of her own, and I was touched by their drive, charisma and perseverance. I do not think I stand alone when I say there could’ve been multiple candidates who would wear the crown well!

It was a very interesting experience to sit on the other side of the table, and ask the candidates questions that I felt were relevant to their reign. Drawing from my personal experience as queen, and from the questions asked of me, I believe I constructed challenging yet enlightening questions for the delegates. I was equally enlightened by some of the responses I received- what a bright young bunch!

Needless to say, I had a blast judging alongside Martin and Tony, and found myself at no loss for words when it came to questioning the delegates. I hope the girls enjoyed my presence as much as I enjoyed theirs, and got some rest after such a long night!

Saturday July 5th 2008- Miss Queen of the Islands Pageant

Whew…Where to start? I attended the Miss Queen of the Islands Pageant as a Distinguished guest, and had a blast!

The dedication, insight and creativity of the pageant organizers ensured that every last detail was considered-from the sumptuous catering to the delightful set design, I really felt like I was in far off land!

The hosts ensured that the evening flowed smoothly and provided witty banter that really kept the crowd entertained. I especially liked the fact that Jamaal seemed to have a real connection with the delegates and the pageant organizers-it really showed his personal interest in this venture. Rather than just lending his name to an event, he took the time to get involved and make a difference. I am very impressed by his connection to the Toronto community, especially with him playing out of Dallas. It’s nice to see a “home grown hero” staying in touch with his roots.

Having met the exiting Queen, Camille, at other events, I must praise her efforts in upholding the title for the duration of her reign. She is an incredibly intelligent, bright young woman, and did the MQIP proud. I loved the way you incorporated her into the choreography of the show, so she got one more night to shine before she went on her way. Her final walk touched us all.

I must also extend praise to each and every delegate-their hard work, practice and drive really paid off! When it came time to pick the Queen, I was on the edge of my seat! There were just so many great performances, and the competition was very tough. Congratulations to Jamillia for her outstanding efforts- I know she will wear the crown well.

Sunday June 29th 2008- Gay Pride Parade

There’s no place like home…there’s no place like home…As I walked down Yonge street and watched a colourful Drag Queen paying homage to Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, I realized there is no place like the city of Toronto! I have been a proud supporter of Pride week since it’s inception, and 2008 proved to be yet another sweet success. I was treated like a Queen from the moment I set foot in “The Village”- many friends and organizers were there to greet me and more than happy to accept a Plus-Sized Diva among their ranks! We strutted down Church street, got hosed off by firefighters on Yonge, and took a break to hear some music at the one of a kind Beer Garden on Wellesly- which I happened to manage last year! I am so lucky to call Toronto home, where we can celebrate diversity with PRIDE 365 days a year!

May 29th 2008 – Funny girls & Dynamic Diva’s- Sistering’s Fundraising Gala

Through my ongoing volunteer work with Sistering, a women’s drop in located at Bloor and Dovercourt, I was invited to come help out at their annual Fundraising Gala. "Funny Girls & Dynamic Divas” took place on Thursday May 29th at the Glen Gould theatre in Toronto- and what a turnout! Tickets were priced at $75 to raise funds for Sistering to continue their wonderful outreach programs, and the crowd donated generously. There was a live auction with all sorts of Goodies to be won, Tarot card readers ( look out, Miss Toronto Tourism!) and mouth-watering catering that kept the guests coming back for more.

I served as a jack- of-all –trades thanks to my event experience, selling raffle tickets, serving food, helping with the auction, and showing guests into the theatre. There were over 25 women who volunteered their time to ensure the show ran smoothly ( not to mention all the amazing performers!) and we were more like a family working towards a common goal then just volunteers..

Liberty Silver, Elvira Kurt, Martha Chaves, and Alana Bridgewater were among some of the formidable talent, keeping the audience laughing and singing along.

This year, the event generated a profit of $31,927 for this wonderful organization. I can’t wait to do it again next year!

No Diet Day!

Curvy Catwalk's Jill Andrew and Miss Canada Plus gal pals Stephanie and Cindy take a break in the city for a sweet bite. L to R: Stephanie Conover, Jill Andrew (middle) and Cindy Bourassa are kissing diets goodbye in celebration of International No Diet Day!

Click here to view last year's events.