Miss New Brunswick 2017

Miss New Brunswick 2017


Hello My Sunshines,


       Beaches, clear waters, and outdoor adventures. That is how most people spend their summers, doing something relaxing, and allowing themselves to soak up the sun. But as usual, I decided to try something different this summer.


    Last week I was given the amazing opportunity to take part in the Miss New Brunswick 2017 pageant, and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life.


   Before I start, allow me to break the stereotypes surrounding pageants. Pageants are portrayed as nothing more than a dog show for women. A place where snobby, sickly thin, women come to compete against each other, just to see who is the most physically beautiful. But that's not the case at all!


Pageants are events filled with genuine, real, and amazing women of all shapes and sizes. They go there for the experience and are well awarded, whether they win or not. They are judged, yes, but they judged on their personality, their involvement in their community, their elegance and poise. A pageant winner is someone who you know is beautiful on the inside and out, and is someone who is kind, and generous.


And never before have I seen a group of such beautiful, and down to earth women, then I did when I went to Miss New Brunswick 2017.


It all started with simple introductions, and name game before we got organized into our rooms. Just sitting at the table with these girls, I knew that the next three days were going to be spectacular. We talked about our hobbies, and what we schools we went to. Each and every girl seemed to glow when they talked about their passion, it was like someone had flicked a light switch. But that meant that they were all proud of who they were, and what they do, and were not ashamed to tell others.


They say it only takes 30 seconds to give a first impression, and I was blown away by these girls.

The Miss New Brunswick 2017 Contestants



Pageant girls need to eat too. :p

Awww, look! It's a heart!

The next three days flew by quickly as they were filled with rehearsals, photo shoots, and a talent show. Before I knew it, we were all lining up to go on stage for our opening number.


The memories I made on the stage that night will last a life time. We danced, posed, spoke, and glided across that stage as we went through opening, casual wear, and then finally formal wear.


Shortly after formal wear they announced the five semi-finalists, I was not one of them, but I didn't feel sad in the slightest. Instead I could feel myself smile wider, and tears begin to line my eyes out of joy and pride for the girls that I had become friends with. Shortly after this moment we went back stage to listen to the former Miss New Brunswick's (Marielle Ouellette) goodbye speech. I had gotten to know her pretty well, and began to down right sob, and I can promise you that I did not stop crying until I left the building that night.


Once I fixed my makeup, and went back on stage with the other girls for crowning, I could feel my heart pound in excitement. I knew the judges must of had the hardest job in the world with this pageant, because I could personally see each and every one of those girls becoming the next Miss New Brunswick.


I remember biting my lip, trying to pull myself together as they called out the titles.


"Miss Talent... Miss Minto! Brooklyn Arsenault!!"
"Miss Congeniality... Miss Nackawic! Ashleigh Corey!!"
"2nd Princess... Mlle Mollusque! Emilie Pichon!!"
"1st Princess... Miss Salmon Festival! Hailey Savoie!!"
"And your Miss New Brunswick 2017 is... Miss Minto! Brooklyn Arsenault!!!!"


After her name was called, and we were sure that we were allowed, all of the contestants rushed in towards Brooklyn, and gave each other all one big hug. We cried congratulations to not just her, but everyone, and talked about how well everyone did.


I may not have officially won anything that night, but I gained a dozen new friends, that I know will support me in the future, and the experience of a life time.


Before I end this post, I would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped me get to the Miss New Brunswick Pageant. If you told me a year ago that I'd be doing stuff like this, I'd think you were insane, but because of the over whelming support of my friends and family, I've flourished into the person that I am today. I'd like to thank Dawne McLean and the ACE Pageant for setting this up for me, and giving me the opportunity to represent our small community, it was an honour. Also a huge thank you to my family, my friends and my coach, Michel Belliveau, for supporting, and helping me prepare for all of this. I never could've done this without you. And how would the pageant come to pass if it weren't for the awesome comity members?! Thank you to everyone who helped make the pageant happen, you all did such a fantastic job, and made the three days truly memorable for us. And finally to my girls, you are all so so amazing, and I am so grateful that I got the chance to meet you all. You truly made those three days the best, and I know that all of you are going to go amazing places in life. Remember that all of you are Queens, no matter what anyone tells you, you girls are simply gorgeous, and no one can take that from you.


So what's the lesson from this? What exactly did I win from those three days? I leave knowing that sometimes the best things in life isn't the things you win, or things that you can hold, but the people that you spend it with and the memories that you take with you when you go.


Signing off,
The Nerdy Blogger,
(Brooklyn Wilkins)


P.S. QUOTE OF THE POST:  Heavy is the crown, and yet she wears it as if it were a feather. There is strength in her heart, determination in her eyes and the will to survive resides within her soul. She is you. A warrior. A champion. A fighter. A Queen.    ~ R.H. SIN

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