A Qualicum Beach student will soon be off to Toronto to compete in the Miss Teenage Canada pageant.
Evelyn Van Dusen, 16, is one of three from B.C. to move on from the Miss Teenage B.C. event, which was her first-ever pageant.
“It’s truly an honour to represent this area as well as the Island itself,” she said. “It was the most fulfilling experience I’ve ever had.”
Van Dusen, who was also given the title "Miss Vancouver Island" as the only competitor from the region, is a student at Kwalikum Secondary School and keeps busy with extracurricular activities, student council and a job.
The pageant included aspects like public speaking, as well several runway categories, such as evening wear and one that focused on cultural heritage, which saw Van Dusen wear a traditional Filipino outfit, according to her mom, Coral.
“My daughter is completely enriched from that experience," she added. "I think that we went in with the preconceived notion that it would be very superficial and it was to our surprise that everyone had this deep character and the back stage was so positive and supportive between all the girls.”
Part of the event is that each teenager shares their advocacy or fundraising efforts.
Van Dusen believes in making post-secondary school more accessible. She also aspires to become a lawyer and eventually run for public office.
The national event will be held in Toronto from July 9 to July 13 — it will include workshops about etiquette, stage presence and speaking with confidence, with the pageant held at the end.
Van Dusen is looking for sponsors to help cover the costs of participating in the event. She can be contacted by email at vicrose2453@gmail.com or through her Instagram account missevelynvan.
